page_title: 2015–16 Colchester United F.C. season
section_title: January
hierarchical_section_title: 2015–16 Colchester United F.C. season / Season overview / League One / January
caption_attribution_description: English: Jake Kean signing autographs at Brighton &amp; Hove Albion vs Blackburn Rovers 12/02/2013
context_page_description: The 2015–16 season was Colchester United's 79th season in their history and their eighth consecutive season in League One, the third tier of English football. Along with competing in League One, the club will also participate in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy. The club suffered relegation to League Two, the fourth tier of English football, for the first time in 18-years after finishing the season in 23rd position and in the relegation zone. Colchester made an early exit in the League Cup at the hands of Reading, while they made the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in ten years but were defeated by Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur 4–1.
  The season was notable for managerial changes. Tony Humes began the season in charge, but after a string of successive defeats, he left by mutual consent in November. Richard Hall and John McGreal took temporary charge for one match before they were replaced by Wayne Brown. Kevin Keen took up the reins in December but was unable to transform the U's fortunes, and they were relegated under his stewardship.
context_section_description: January started on a better note for Colchester, earning a 1–1 draw away to Oldham Athletic on 2 January 2016 which moved them off the foot of the table. Rhys Murphy opened the scoring for Oldham after just five minutes, but a late Chris Porter strike against his former club ensured Colchester could not earn an unwanted record of ten consecutive league defeats. Keen's first transfer movements of the January window occurred on 5 January, with Dan Holman allowed to leave the club on a free transfer, joining National League leaders Cheltenham Town. He made his first signing of the transfer window on 7 January, bringing in Norwich City's reserve goalkeeper Jake Kean on an initial 28-day loan deal. Meanwhile, youth-team member Marley Andrews was loaned out to Steve Ball's Maldon & Tiptree for one month. The club tied down the promising Louis Dunne, son of former U's manager and player Joe Dunne, to a three-year development contract on 14 January.
  Colchester continued their winless run in the league on 16 January. With the U's having not registered a win in League One in three months, they welcomed Sheffield United to the Community Stadium, and buoyed by their FA Cup victory over Charlton a week prior, Colchester looked to capitalise on this and push on with their faltering league season. The Blades opened the scoring on 20-minutes through Billy Sharp, who had scored in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign. After the break, the U's equalised when Tom Eastman headed in Marvin Sordell's cross. A point looked to be on the cards for Colchester, but for Chris Basham, who scored a 91st-minute winner for the away side. On 18 January, the U's saw one arrival and one exit. Incoming was former West Ham loanee Elliot Lee, who joined for his second spell with the club until the end of the season. Leaving by mutual consent was Byron Lawrence, who after just one first-team appearance left the club by mutual consent. The following day, Fleetwood Town were the visitors in a 1–1 draw. Alex Gilbey scored the opening goal on 38 minutes, before Eggert Jónsson equalised on the hour mark. The scores remained, and Colchester moved up to 22nd in the League One table, five points from Fleetwood in 20th position and safety.
  Kevin Keen made his first permanent signing on 20 January, bringing in former England international defender Nicky Shorey on a deal until the end of the season. While James Bransgrove became the latest player to join Maldon & Tiptree on loan on 22 January, it was reported that the club had turned down an offer for Alex Gilbey from Championship side Bristol City. Keen later described the offer for Gilbey as "a joke".
  Colchester were cast further from safety on 23 January after they were beaten 3–0 away to Scunthorpe United. Three goals in the space of eight second-half minutes for the home side left the U's seven points from Shrewsbury in 20th-position.
caption: Goalkeeper Jake Kean became Kevin Keen's first signing as Colchester manager, joining on loan from Norwich City on 7 January.[82]
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