Paul Tisdale has joined Carlisle United's fellow League Two club Colchester as an "advisor" for the rest of the season.

The former Exeter, MK Dons and Bristol Rovers manager has agreed to take up a role with the fourth-bottom Essex club.

Tisdale, 48, has linked up with the Us in a week which saw them axe interim boss Wayne Brown after just five weeks in charge and instal Hayden Mullins as head coach.

Tisdale's arrival in an advisory position comes a month and a half after he was sacked by Bristol Rovers.

Colchester believe Tisdale's experience will help to support Mullins in the bid to lead Colchester to safety.

In a statement chairman Robbie Cowling said: "The focus of the job will be to provide advice and assistance to a talented but relatively inexperienced management team, as well as acting as a sounding board for all football and performance matters throughout the club.

"Paul has immense experience of league football, particularly with Exeter City where he led the team from The Conference to League One with back-to-back promotions.

"He left Exeter in 2018 as English football’s longest-serving manager. Working closely with Hayden, we feel utilising Paul’s vast experience will give us the best possible chance of staying in League Two."

Tisdale said he was "excited" by the challenge and would help Mullins "develop clear and deliverable match strategies."

Tisdale was at the Exeter helm when they beat Carlisle in 2017's dramatic play-off semi-finals, the Grecians going on to lose to Blackpool in the final.