Joe Dunne has warned he will not tolerate dangerous tackles on his players during Colchester United’s pre-season campaign.
 

The U’s boss was left seething after what he described as a “horrendous” challenge by Heybridge Swifts’ Ryan Doyle at Scraley Road, on Wednesday night.
 

It led to new signing Craig Eastmond being stretchered off with an ankle injury and the Colchester midfielder may now miss the start of the new League One season.
 

Doyle afterwards apologised to both Eastmond and Dunne for the tackle, which resulted in the former Arsenal midfielder leaving the ground on crutches.
 

But ahead of Colchester’s friendlies at AFC Sudbury tonight and Conference South side Bishop’s Stortford tomorrow, Dunne has stressed he will not stand for any similar challenges.
 

Dunne said: “It was a horrendous tackle - I’ve never seen one like it in a pre-season game."

See today's Gazette for the full version of this story and all the local pre-season football previews.