John Terry Set to Become His Nephew's Boss at Colchester After Outshining Chelsea Flop in Club Purchase

JOHN TERRY is ready to get stuck into England’s gritty lower leagues with Colchester – and it will be a family affair when he does.

The and legend, 45, has thrashed out a for the League Two outfit as part of a consortium.

John Terry is set to complete a £14m takeover of Colchester UnitedCredit: Getty Frankie Terry – John’s nephew – recently broke into the Colchester first teamCredit: Getty

And he is set to be given significant influence over sporting decisions.

That will be music to the ears of his nephew, Frankie Terry, who has just broken into the first team.

The 22-year-old, who is a centre-back like his Champions League-winning uncle, was previously shipped out on loan to the likes of Chelmsford City and Aveley.

But after a successful stint with fifth-tier Braintree Town at the start of this season, the youngster was recalled and thrust straight into first-team action.

Terry’s vested interest will ease any concerns Colchester fans might have about his priorities, with coaching duties at Chelsea’s academy set to continue.

Having grown up just an hour away in East London, it is clear that this is not merely a business venture for the man still revered by Chelsea fans as “captain, leader, legend”.

The deal would not have happened at all if another ex-Blue had beaten him to the punch.

A consortium fronted by Alexandra Pato, who flopped on loan at Stamford Bridge in 2016, before talks collapsed in February.

Outgoing owner Robbie Cowling has been looking to sell the club for just over a year.

So frustrated fans have been feeling like the entire project has been put on hold.

Terry’s arrival should give them the boost they need, with the five-time Premier League winner unlikely to be happy languishing in League Two.

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have already shown at Championship high-flyers that famous faces can spark real change.

Alexandre Pato flopped at Chelsea in 2016Credit: Getty The JobServe Community Stadium opened in 2008Credit: Alamy Danny Cowley has been at the helm for two and a half yearsCredit: PA John Terry won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012Credit: Getty

Terry is walking into a club with a solid base, a modern 10,000-capacity stadium and a team that is broadly meeting expectations.

But there has not been much to get supporters excited in recent years.

Colchester have spent each of the past 10 seasons in League Two and finished between 19th and 22nd in the last four campaigns.

They are on course to better that this term – sitting 13th with four games still to play.

And they have a reliable manager in Danny Cowley who has been at the helm for two and a half years.

But slow progress does not fill stands.

Colchester have averaged around 5,000 supporters at home games this season, meaning half of their ground is left empty.

That should be where their glitzy new chief comes up trumps.

With over 700 appearances for Chelsea under his belt, and time spent under legendary bosses like Jose Mourinho, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti, it would not be a surprise to see Terry implement some high-level habits in his new lower-league setting.

Training ground technology, sports science expertise and data-led player recruitment are all common practice at Prem clubs.

Get those nailed and fixtures like tonight’s at home to Accrington Stanley may become a thing of the past.