Favourites to become new Cambridge manager as Garry Monk leaves role after 12 months

We take a look at the current favourites to become new Cambridge United manager as Garry Monk leaves the role after 12 months.

His departure was announced following a run of poor results, with the team sitting at the bottom of League One, eight points from safety.

Monk managed to secure only nine wins during his tenure, which concluded after a 1-0 home defeat to Exeter City.

This decision was part of Cambridge United’s strategic review as they aim to preserve their League One status in the remaining games of the season.

Garry Monk has left his position as Head Coach at Cambridge United.

— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) February 16, 2025

CLUB STATEMENT:

Garry Monk has today left his position as Head Coach at Cambridge United…

Paul Barry, Majority Owner, on behalf of the Owners and Board said, “We would like to thank Garry for his hard work and commitment to Cambridge United over the last 12 months.

“He really bought into the Club during his time with us and we are all very disappointed that it has not worked out in the way we would all have hoped.

“In the end, the table does not lie and it is the right moment to make a change as we conclude the first part of our football review.

“There are 15 games of this season remaining, and we must continue to fight together to preserve our League One status over the coming weeks.

“At the same time, we will use this period to plan strategically for the next chapter of the Football Club. We will say more about this in the week.”

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW CAMBRIDGE MANAGER:

BetVictor – 9am – 17 Feb
Mark Bonner – 3/1
Jon Brady – 7/2
Barry Corr – 6/1
Neil Harris – 4/1
Des Buckingham – 14/1
Leam Richardson – 14/1
Ian Evatt – 14/1

Monk said, per Cambridge Independent: “It’s a bad result for us and it was a poor match overall. It looked like two teams that were struggling for form, points and stuff like that.

“In a match like that the key is the first goal. We had our opportunities to get the first goal – Lofty’s header, Stokesy’s opportunities and Kach has had a couple of opportunities. They’re opportunities to score goals or at least hit the target but we didn’t take them.

“And they get their one real opportunity in the second half – it’s not even really an opportunity, it’s just poor defending from us. It’s a simple situation, we don’t defend the cross and we find ourselves a goal behind.

“We huffed and puffed after that without any real quality and obviously we’ve ended up with a really bad result.”

He added: “There is enough time but we are running out of time. I’ve always said that it’s not over until it’s over – football works like that.

“It’s hard in this moment and everyone in that changing room feels really hugely disappointed – all the emotions you’d imagine after a game like that and a result like that.

“But in football you have to move on, dust yourselves down and get ready. The next couple of days will be about reflecting and then when we come back in we have to work. The players have to stick together – that’s hugely important.

“I totally understand the frustration of the fans. I’m as frustrated – and everyone is – as frustrated as they are.

“What’s important for the players is that any 90 minutes, they’re (the fans) behind the team – like they always are.”

Here’s how fans reacted amid the favourites to become new Cambridge manager as Garry Monk leaves the role after 12 months…

@thom_ohz: About 20 games too late…but thank fuck for that!

@Avesycufc: Awful manager, tactically and decision making with things like timing off the subs and which players starting. 3 months late really we’ve had 2 wins since the START OF DECEMBER and now he’s gone when we’ve basically got 1% chance of staying up he’s left us in the bin cheers Gary

@Possum_Badger: It didn’t work out, but he’s a lovely guy and deserves happiness as we all do. No need for personal vendettas in football, hate to see it. Never bullshitted in interviews and was an honest, nice chap to have at the club. Such a shame. All the best, Garry 👋

@SE16wall: Neil Harris is out of work. Would be a good appointment

@Essexbizz: It’s a harder league this year . Much better standard of teams . More competitive!

@Cain_VVL4: Wasn’t impressed with him at the end of last season but was happy that he got us over the line. However, since then, we have gone so far backwards, 9 games without a win at the start, and should have gone then to try and save the season, but we didn’t act.

@laura_denton22: Had to happen. Probably too late but 45 points to play for so you never know with this club.

@freddieowers: Not a fan of personal vendettas in football, especially when it comes to someone working with the intention of helping the club we all love, so I do wish Garry all the best. That said, this was sadly inevitable and we now need to move on and fully support whoever comes in #COYU

@lukepbhoy: Keep thinking his 8th place finish withs Swansea was fairly recent then realised it was 10 years ago 💀 what a fall off his management career has had

@grecian10681068: And for about the 25th time in the last 10 years , a home defeat against Little ol’ Exeter has done for a manager. #ecfc

@_Dylxn19_: Very confusing since the club backed him a couple weeks ago! The club should have let him go if he was gonna walk a couple weeks later!

@thefamousFroMan: Correct decision. Couldn’t get a tune out of the dreadful players so had to go, but this is too late to be closing the stable door, the horse bolted months ago.

@Goooolazzo: Excellent news. Hate to say I told you so and all that, but it was obvious in October that this should have been the move and again in December, yet we make the move when it’s too late to save out L1 status #CamUtd

@playmonk3y: Next appointment is going to be interesting. Do we go for an unispiring but pragmatic seasoned Lower League Manager who will no doubt get results or a young progressive coach (not Bonner) that won’t have an instant impact but could develop an exciting squad over time?