Andy Parkinson's old clubs include Tranmere and Sheffield United

New Cambridge striker Andy Parkinson says it was the club's management team of Gary Brabin and Paul Carden who convinced him to move to the club.

Parkinson, 29, who played for Notts County in League Two last season, will be dropping out of the Football League for the first time in his career.

He told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "No-one likes to drop a level, but the transfer market in the league is slow.

"A big decision in me joining is the management team in place."

Parkinson first got to know U's assistant manager Carden when they played youth football together in Liverpool back in the early 1990s.

"I already knew Paul," he said. "He was ringing me and trying to persuade me to join so that is why I made the decision.

"Also, I've got a young family to think about and, in today's market, there are lots of players out of contract every year so you can't be too choosy.

"But Cambridge are a good club and I'm excited about joining."

Having been frozen out of first-team football at Meadow Lane last season, he found himself trying to fight for a place on the bench.

Whichever way the manager uses me I just want to be free enough to attack and create U's striker Andy Parkinson

But Parkinson, who has filled a number of positions at his former clubs, will be happy to play anywhere at the Abbey Stadium as long as he is picked.

"I've played most of my career on either wing," he said, "but, more recently, on the left side of the pitch.

"I've also come inside and played in the whole behind the front two.

"But, whichever way the manager uses me, I just want to be free enough to attack and create."