Shaun Derry appointed as new Cambridge United manager
Thursday 12 November 2015 16:34, UK
Cambridge United have announced the appointment of Shaun Derry as the club's new manager.
The 37-year-old, who was present during last weekend's 1-0 win at home to Basingstoke in the FA Cup, has signed a contract which takes him through to the end of the 2017/18 season.
Derry was previously in charge of his hometown club Notts County and helped keep them in Sky Bet League One in his first season, only to be sacked in March with the Magpies just above the relegation zone.
Cambridge United currently sit 18th in the League Two table and face a tough trip to second-placed Oxford United in Derry's first game in charge on Saturday.
Derry said he felt he was a good fit for the club and was keen to help United progress.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "This is a club that has made a real rapid rise the last two or three years and hopefully I'm the man who is going to take it on to the next level. I think the infrastructure gives me a really good chance.
"This is such an uncompromising league, as are all the leagues in the English pyramid, but none more so than League Two - it is a real strong league and there are some big teams here.
"I actually think it is a real difficult league to get out of - possibly more difficult than League One. We know we are in among a group of seven or eight other teams that have probably got the same aspirations, but [we are] definitely looking up, that's for sure."
Former manager Richard Money was sacked on November 2 after winning just five of his 16 league games in charge this season.
Money had been in charge at the Abbey Stadium for three years and enjoyed an FA Cup run last season, when they took Manchester United to a fourth-round replay.
Asked about his objectives for the club, Derry added: "I want the boys to smile, I want them to enjoy playing football, being footballers. In the long term - I have to speak about the long term because I don't want to be here for just five minutes - that is getting the club into League One and I feel that's achievable, without a doubt."
