CAMBRIDGE United boss Jimmy Quinn today revealed his relief at not getting the manager's job at Crawley.

The former Northern Ireland international was one of the leading candidates for the hot-seat after Francis Vines was sacked last year.

He had two interviews and was on a short-list of three, before John Hollins was appointed.

Quinn was disappointed at the time and criticised the club for the way he found out through his agent.

But the one-time Reading, Swindon and Shrewsbury boss now admits it was a blessing in disguise.

Reds have endured a catalogue of off-field problems since Hollins took over and were plunged into administration in the summer.

They are bottom of the Conference going into tomorrow's trip to the Abbey Stadium, despite winning more games than any team in the bottom half, after being given a ten-point penalty by the league.

Quinn, who took over at Cambridge last month, said: "I look at it now and think I'm glad I didn't get it.

"John (Hollins) is an experienced manager and he has to be to work under difficult circumstances.

"I know (assistant) Alan Lewer very well and I think they have done a tremendous job considering what has gone on.

"I experienced it many years ago when I was manager at Swindon and the club went into administration.

"It isn't funny when you have to lay people off and you are not sure when you are going to get your next wage packet.

"It is very hard to then try to get players in to compete at a high level and you haven't got any money."

Quinn believes Crawley can get out of relegation trouble even with their ongoing financial problems because of the reduced standard of the Conference.

He reckons the league is not as good as it was when he led Shrewsbury into the Football League via the play-offs in 2004.

He said: "The league is not as strong as a lot of the players who were playing when I was at Shrewsbury have gone into the League.

"Don't get me wrong, there are some good players but overall it is not as strong as it was. With modern day coaching and fitness, it means everyone has got a chance now.

"That is why no team can take anything for granted because everyone can beat everyone else.

"John (Hollins) has done a great job to wipe away the ten-point deficit and I know that on their day Crawley are capable of beating anybody.

"Winning 4-0 against Morecambe speaks for itself and if they can do that then they can give anyone a game."

Cambridge have enjoyed a upturn in results since Quinn took over four weeks ago. They have lost two of the seven games he has been in charge of, having picked up three points from their previous eight matches.

Tuesday's 2-1 win at York came courtesy of a goal direct from a corner by Jon Brady with three minutes remaining.

Reds have an injury doubt over midfielder Gary Mills, who limped off with a knee problem in Tuesday's 3-0 defeat against Weymouth. Defender Ben Judge has a cold, which forced him to be replaced at half-time against the Terras, but should be fit.