Quinn wants to return to management as soon as possible

Jimmy Quinn has insisted the end of his reign as Cambridge United on Monday was a mutual decision rather than a sacking but admitted he is still in shock.

Quinn, who had been at the U's since 2006, told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "I obviously had pre-season planned and had players lined up to come in.

"I'm not going to say I'm delighted with what has happened, but the decision has been made.

"I've been in football for 28 years and I know this type of thing can happen."

Interview: Former Cambridge United boss Jimmy Quinn

He added: "It's only a week or so from pre-season and a new manager has got to come in so I don't want to make it difficult for anybody.

They're not in trouble, there are still 16 players in the squad and they're trying to get another three or four Former U's boss Jimmy Quinn

"I've had too good a time at the club to do that and I want to leave with fond memories."

Quinn added that he would not reveal the full set of reasons for his departure.

"I'm going to leave that for people to mull over," he said. "You've got to make decisions - and sometimes you've got to make decisions that are unpopular.

"The decision's been made, for whatever reason is irrelevant.

"Let's get on with it as far as I'm concerned and I just hope Cambridge go on from strength to strength."

Despite his departure and that of almost half the Cambridge United squad since the end of the season, Quinn insisted there was still reason for optimism at the club.

"They're not in trouble, there are still 16 players in the squad and they're trying to get another three or four so I genuinely think they'll be OK," he said.