Paul Lambert, the former Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and Scotland midfielder, has been named as the new manager of League One strugglers Colchester United.

Lambert takes over from Kit Symons who had been in temporary charge since the departure of Geraint Williams last month.

The 39-year-old started his managerial career at Livingston before spending two years in charge at Wycombe, winning 44 of his 108 games at the helm. He resigned from the post following the club’s elimination from the League Two play-offs last season.

Colchester are 20th in League One and are yet to win a game at their new Community Stadium but Lambert is confident he can turn things around.

“We have done really well away and Kit and Joe (Dunne) deserve credit for the results they’ve picked up over the last couple of weeks,” he said.

“We then have to sort things out at home. It seems that it has been a little too easy for teams to go away with the points from here and that has to stop now.”

“If teams are going to win at Colchester, they will have to had worked for it whilst I am the manager."

Lambert will travel with the squad for Saturday's League One match with Cheltenham, although Symons will take charge of team affairs for one final time.