Former West Ham player, coach and caretaker manager, Kevin Keen has left his position as Colchester United manager following their relegation from League One.
The 49-year-old took charge last December, but did not achieve his first league win until March. The team won only five out of 24 games under Keen and relegation was confirmed by a defeat at the weekend.
“After a meeting with the owner, Robbie Cowling over the future direction of the club, Kevin Keen has decided to leave,” a club statement said. “Kevin has worked tirelessly to try and turn around the fortunes of the club this season.”
Keen began his career with Wycombe Wanderers before joining West Ham in 1983. He spent seven seasons with the Hammers making 219 appearances and scoring 21 goals. He was twice promoted and twice relegated with the Irons. He left for Wolves in 1993 after a poor contract offer by then manager Billy Bonds.
Keen rejoined West Ham in July 2002 as under-17 academy coach. He was later appointed reserve team coach and became first-team coach in October 2006. Following the sacking of manager Alan Pardew in December 2006, he was very briefly placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs until Alan Curbishley was appointed two days later when he reverted to his previous role as reserve team coach. He was formally announced as caretaker manager on 3rd September 2008 after the resignation of manager Alan Curbishley. Keen took charge of West Ham for one game only; a 3–2 away defeat to West Brom on 13th September 2008 before handing over the manager’s role to Gianfranco Zola. Keen was appointed again as caretaker-manager of West Ham, for their last game of the 2010/2011 season, following the sacking of their previous manager, Avram Grant on 15 May 2011.
After his three spells as caretaker manager at West Ham, Keen left the club in July 2011 to take up the role of first team coach at Liverpool.