Brabin has signed a two year deal at the Abbey

Former Southport boss Gary Brabin has been named as the new manager of Cambridge United.

The 37-year-old replaces Jimmy Quinn, who left the club earlier this month, on a two-year deal.

Brabin is joined by midfielder Paul Carden, 29, who returns to the U's from Accrington to take up the position of assistant manager.

Brabin made more than 200 League appearances during his time as a player before retiring in 2004.

Cambridge finished second in the Blue Square Premier last season, but failed to win promotion back to the Football League following defeat at the hands of Exeter City in the play-off final.

Jimmy Quinn left the club by mutual consent after a month of departures from the Abbey which saw a number of first-team stars exit the club.

606: DEBATE What a coup to get Carden back yellowAmberArmy

Brabin has spent just seven matches in charge at Blue Square North side Southport, but is confident of building on Quinn's success.

"Cambridge is a bigger club, I think they should be in the Football League, they've underachieved a little bit," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"I just feel I can come in and take them a step further."

Brabin will work alongside close friend and former U's loanee Paul Carden.

Carden spent the second half of last season on loan at Cambridge from Accrington Stanley, and looked to have agreed a pre-contract move to Wrexham.

However the allure of a management position proved enough to encourage him back, and Brabin is delighted to have the former Burton and Peterborough man as his assistant.

"Paul's someone who I trust immensely and someone who I rate highly as a player," he said.

"It just sounded perfect for him to come in and help me and I think he's ready for that step."