U’s seek new boss as Derry departs...
CAMBRIDGE’S newlook board won’t jump the gun when it comes to appointing Shaun Derry’s successor.
Just minutes after Cambridge’s goalless draw with Lincoln on Friday night, head coach Derry was relieved of his duties to cap a day of major upheaval at the Abbey Stadium.
Paul Barry, the club’s largest shareholder since 2008, has become the U’s new owner while chief executive Jez George has stepped down, and assistant head coach Joe Dunne and first-team coach Mark Bonner were placed in temporary charge of onpitch matters.
The new head of football Graham Daniels insists Cambridge won’t rush the recruitment process.
“Getting it right is more important than getting it done quickly – that’s the crucial factor,” said Daniels.
“We feel, under Richard Money’s watch, (which) was a good three-and-a-bit years, and under Shaun Derry’s watch as head coach, we’ve continued to move in a stabilising direction.”
Former Notts County chief Derry departed after 124 games in charge of Cambridge.
Daniels added: “This man has stabilised us. He has got us consistently doing fine in League Two and, at 40 years of age, has got a real future in football. As a consequence of new ownership, we’ve come to a mutual decision for his benefit and ours.”
Derry’s final game in charge saw Cambridge end a three-match losing run with a point at home to Checkatrade Trophy finalists Lincoln.
He was denied a last hurrah as striker Barry Corr turned a Jevani Brown cross into the net, only to see the offside flag raised, and before that, he headed goalwards from a David Amoo delivery but was denied by a magnificent left-handed save from Imps goalie Ryan Allsop.
Corr also failed to stab home at the far post when Allsop got a palm to substitute Amoo’s strike while in the first period, Lincoln’s Harry Anderson sidefooted wide from Matt Rhead’s header across the face of goal.
Having watched the Imps go the wire as they defeated Chelsea Under21s by way of a penalty shoot-out in midweek, manager Danny Cowley was delighted with his players’ efforts.
He said: “(Against Chelsea) we spent not only physical energy but a lot of emotional energy, and then the league make us play on a Friday night, which is disgraceful.
“I was so proud of the effort.”