Carden will serve as a player and assistant manager at the Abbey

Cambridge United assistant player-coach Paul Carden has ended speculation over his future by signing a new three-year deal at the Abbey.

The 30-year-old's future had been in doubt since his colleague and friend Gary Brabin was sacked as U's manager.

Carden told the club's website: "I've spoken to Gary and he thinks this is a fantastic opportunity for me.

"This will give me the chance to kick on as a player while developing as an assistant-manager and a coach."

Carden had previously hinted he would leave the club if he could not continue in his coaching role.

It would therefore seem any prospective candidate for the manager's job will now have to agree to work alongside Carden.

Former Leyton Orient boss Martin Ling is believed to be the current front-runner for the post, and was at the Abbey for last night's draw with Barnet.

"I don't know much about Martin, but I played against his Leyton Orient side with which he got automatic promotion from League Two," Carden told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"He'll definitely be up there with the best of the applicants, but I don't know which way the club will go."

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