Joe Dunne

Joe Dunne is assistant manager at Mansfield Town, having previously been the manager of Colchester United and Cambridge United. The appointment at Colchester resulted in Dunne entering professional football management for the first time having previously served as John Ward's assistant. Dunne's arrival in the Colchester United hot seat completed the Irishman's journey to the first team job that began nine years ago – although his association with the famous blue and white stripes goes back much further. The combative full back arrived at Layer Road from Gillingham, where he had spent six years. During seven years across two spells – punctuated by a brief spell at Dover Athletic – Joe became a huge fans' favourite for his no nonsense style of defending. An intelligent footballer, his thoughtful style away from the hustle and bustle of the ninety minutes saw him take a great interest in the various facets of the game and it was perhaps no surprise that he ventured into coaching when a knee injury brought his career to a premature conclusion in 2003. He took his first steps on that coaching ladder in 2003, appointed as the U's U17s and youth team coach. He moved up to be youth Team manager,  reserve team manager, first team coach then assistant manager. When John Ward left the club in late September Dunne became first team manager having previously twice been caretaker manager. Dunne was in the post for two years, successfully keeping the Us in League One. Dunne went to be assistant manager, then manager, at Cambridge, before looking up with Graham Coughlan at Bristol Rovers. He followed Coughlan to Mansfield in December 2019.