Jon De Souza has taken over as Colchester United's new academy manager.

De Souza worked as youth-team manager at Luton Town, before then taking over as academy boss at Kenilworth Road.

He then took over as academy manager at Championship club Brentford, a position he held until the end of last season.

The Bees took the decision to restructure their youth set-up last May, scrapping their academy from under-eight through to under-21 level.

De Souza told the U's website: "I think the infrastructure here is as good as I've worked in.

"The chairman has really invested in that side of things and I believe the club can progress back up through the leagues and that we can also find the young players that will help the club develop in the future."