TWO Colchester United legends have left their managerial posts today.

Jamie Cureton has left his role as player-manager of Isthmian League Premier side Bishop's Stortford.

And former U's promotion-winning captain Richard Wilkins has departed Needham Market, after two-and-a-half seasons years at the helm.

Cureton, who won the Championship golden boot in Colchester's historic first-ever season in the Championship, says he has left Bishop's Stortford with 'great sadness'.

The 44-year-old says he was told he had “no future next season as player or manager” at Woodside Park and has joined Isthmian Premier side, AFC Hornhchurch.

Cureton tweeted: 'It’s with great sadness that my time @BSFCTheBlues has come to an end the club have told me I have no future next season as a player or manager.

'I have had the best 2 years playing and managing your club I thought this was going to be the club I’d retired at but it’s not to be.'

Cureton scored 23 goals in 44 games for Colchester in the 2006-07 season before leaving for Norwich City.

A Bishop's Stortford FC statement said: "It is with regret that Jamie Cureton has left Bishop’s Stortford FC to join another Club.

"An offer came in for Jamie last week and after sitting down with him he wanted assurances he would be with BSFC next season as a player or player/manager, we couldn’t guarantee that at this moment in time but said we were happy for him to stay as a player for the remainder of the season.

"After a lot of thought Jamie decided it would be his best interest to leave the Club.

"We respect his decision and would like to place on record our thanks to him for all he has achieved whilst at the Club.

"He will not be severing all ties with the Club as he will continue to work alongside Jim Duggan coaching our academy Under 19 side."

Meanwhile, Wilkins has left Needham Market and has been replaced by former U's under-23 boss Kevin Horlock, who will also continue his duties as Academy Manager at the BetVictor Southern League Premier Central club.

Wilkins who was U's skipper when they won promotion via the play-offs in 1998, leaves with the Suffolk club in 14th place in the table.

In a statement, Needham Market chief executive Graham Emmerson said: “Richard has been a pleasure to work with and he is completely professional in the way that he conducts himself and the manner in which he represents the Club.

"This has been a very difficult decision but the overriding consideration has to be what is best for the Club and who is best equipped to integrate some of the exceptional talent that is currently in our Academy into the first team.

"We wish Richard all the very best for the future and thank him sincerely for the hard work in establishing us as a Level 3 club."