By Pete Oliver

Quinn took over from Rob Newman at the start of September

New Cambridge United boss Jimmy Quinn says the prospect of restoring League football to the Abbey Stadium lured him back to Conference management.

Quinn landed his third job at Conference level when he was appointed as Rob Newman's successor at the U's.

And the former Northern Ireland international striker believes that Cambridge ticks all the right boxes.

Quinn told BBC Sport: "Every time a job came up I was linked with it, like the one at Forest Green.

"But I would not have taken the Forest Green job because you can't really take them too far.

"Cambridge is a different ball-game. They could comfortably be a second division club, if not a first. I want to try and get the club back into the League."

Quinn was thought to be a leading contender for the vacant posts at Exeter City and Grays Athletic during the summer.

And Cambridge's own search was expected to lead them to Chris Wilder, before he opted to stay with Halifax Town.

It will take me a while to assess things - that won't happen overnight Jimmy Quinn

Quinn was therefore delighted to field a call "out of the blue" from chairman Lee Power and resume a managerial career which had started at Reading and then Swindon.

"I think I am working for a good chairman. He has played the game so he knows what the script is. It isn't always like that," Quinn added.

"Cambridge is a terrific club. It's probably in the wrong position at the moment but we are just trying to sort the whole thing out.

"It's not one of the best budgets in the league, but it is a club with potential.

"The support we have is fantastic and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

As he wound down a prolific goalscoring career, Quinn enjoyed a successful stint as player-manager of Northwich Victoria before leading Shrewsbury to promotion back to the Football League at the first attempt in 2004.

The 46-year-old, who coached at Peterborough and managed in Norway after leaving Gay Meadow, therefore knows what it takes to prosper in the Conference

But, as is usually the case when clubs hire new managers, Quinn would not have been needed had everything at Cambridge been progessing smoothly.

U's chairman Lee Power played for Norwich in the Premiership

Under Newman the club stabilised last season following their relegation from League Two and a period in administration.

Yet despite assembling a decent-looking squad over the summer, which looked to be lacking only in the striking department, Cambridge got off to their worst ever start.

One point from the opening six games signalled Newman's departure.

Two draws and a win since have lifted the mood and Quinn, coaching qualified to Pro Licence level, believes he has decent foundations to work from to pursue his ambitions.

He said: "It will take me a while to assess things. That won't happen overnight.

"It might take a month or two to see the players' true characters and see who is up for the fight.

"But in the last few games they have been doing very well and the potential is there.

"It's just a matter of getting these lads playing to a decent level of consistency."