Colchester have promoted the experienced John Ward to become their new boss following Aidy Boothroyd's decision to leave to become manager of Championship side Coventry.
It is the second time in less than 12 months that the U's have lost a talented young manager to a bigger club following Paul Lambert's move to Norwich last August.
Boothroyd had replaced Lambert at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and for much of the season looked on course to secure a place in the play-offs before a poor run of form over the closing weeks saw them finish in eighth spot - eight points adrift of the top six.
Coventry have agreed a compensation fee for the 39-year-old with Colchester, whose chairman Robbie Cowling said: "I'm obviously disappointed to lose a good manager who could have taken the club on further than we have done and I thought we started something we've not quite finished.
"Obviously I understand some of the reasons why he's wanted to take up the job at Coventry. They are in a higher division and it is just 30 minutes away from where he lives with his young family so I think it's understandable."
Ward joined United as Boothroyd's assistant last September and has a host of experience from previous spells in charge of York, Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Cheltenham and Carlisle.
Long-serving Colchester stalwart Joe Dunne, who has been a player, youth team coach and reserve team boss at the club, will be Ward's assistant.
Meanwhile MK Dons have appointed Karl Robinson as their new manager in succession to Paul Ince, who left the club in April.
Robinson, who had been Ince's assistant, is just 29 - making him the youngest manager in Premier and Football Leagues.
He has agreed a 12-month rolling deal and will be assisted by the experienced John Gorman.
Dons chairman Pete Winkelman said: "Karl is a young man with enormous ambition who has the talent to build on the momentum our club is building."
Other managerial news in the division has seen Leyton Orient hand a two-year contract to Russell Slade, who kept them in League One after arriving in April on a temporary deal and leading them to three wins from their last six games.
The former Notts County, Scarborough, Grimsby, Yeovil and Brighton boss said: "Having stayed in League One, we can now move on to longer-term objectives. Hopefully we can build the right squad and get the right type of player. I believe that anything is achievable."
And Bristol Rovers have ended the contract of director of football Lennie Lawrence after a five year spell in the role.
Lawrence was appointed to work alongside manager Paul Trollope, who will now run things on his own.
NEXT TIME - The early League One summer transfer news including the prolific goalscorer leaving his club to move into the Championship, the former Liverpool player arriving in the division and the names of some of the many men released by clubs in the big summer clear-out.
