FORMER Colchester United head coach John McGreal has been linked with a return to League Two management.

McGreal, who has recently been coaching at his former club Ipswich Town, has been looking for a new managerial role since leaving the U's, last summer.

The ex-Colchester boss is being linked with a return to Prenton Park, after Keith Hill was sacked earlier this week despite leading Tranmere to the League Two play-offs.

McGreal, who was born in Birkenhead and made more than 200 appearances for Tranmere between 1990 and 1999, is now being linked with the position and a return to his former club.

The 48-year-old is second favourite for the job with The Sack Race at 6/1, behind current caretaker boss Ian Dawes (4/1).

McGreal has also been linked with the vacant managerial roles at Leyton Orient and Walsall.

He is currently viewed as 8/1 by Sky Bet to take charge of the O's while The Sack Race view him at the same price to take charge at the Bescot Stadium.

Fellow former U's boss Steve Ball is 20/1 for the Orient job, while current Colchester first-team advisor Paul Tisdale is 12/1 to take over at Brisbane Road.

McGreal spent a total of 11 years as a coach at Colchester, including four years as head coach.

In addition to leading them to the League Two play-offs and League Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in their history, he also helped the U’s compete for a top-seven finish in his first three years in charge in addition to helping a number of talented players progress to a higher level, after shining under his management.

He parted company with Colchester last summer, with his assistant Steve Ball succeeding him as head coach.

McGreal revealed to the Gazette at the end of last year that he held talks with two other League Two clubs since leaving his role at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Speaking to the Gazette last December, he said: “I’m looking to get back involved if the right club and the right move for me happens – it’s got to be right for all parties.

“Hopefully what I did at Colchester, especially last season is at the forefront of people’s minds and there’s something there that suits all parties.

“I could have easily have jumped into something straight away – maybe other people would have jumped in but I just felt that it wasn’t right for me at the time.

“The desire is always there and you want to improve especially on last season."