Skipper is back as new boss

Nightingale, pictured, was unveiled on Thursday morning as the successor to Dan Gleeson following his departure 24 hours earlier. Nightingale is no stranger to City having made over 350 appearances for the club in two spells and captaining the side that played in the last first team game at Milton Road in April 2013.

The joint manager at Soham Town Rangers since 2015, he left the Ryman North club in midtable to return to City. In a statement welcoming him back on City's website, officials confirmed that Neil Midgley was staying on as his assistant manager.

City chairman Kevin Satchell said: “The board felt it was essential to get a replacement for Dan Gleeson in quickly, and we believe that Robbie has a number of qualities that he can bring to the club that will hopefully see an upturn in results.

"He knows the club and what it means to the supporters and is fully committed to Cambridge City. He has done a good job with Soham and I know he is absolutely determined to do everything he can to transform the fortunes of this club."

Nightingale, who takes charge for the first time on Saturday for the visit of Merthyr Town, is delighted to be back and looking forward to the challenge of keeping the club in the EVO-STIK League Southern's top flight.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity to come back and manage a team who I not only played for but who I support too. I was even a mascot many years ago so to now be manager is an amazing feeling. Therefore, I know what it means to be a fan and a player for this club and I am absolutely determined to bring the good times back to Cambridge City.

“However, right now we have to deal with the current situation and that means improving our league position. I know it looks bleak but I am confident we can stay up. When Dave Theobald and I were appointed at Soham the team were several points adrift but we stayed up so I know what is needed to get this right.

“It will inevitably mean investing in new playing personnel but they must be players who are up for the challenge ahead and take pride in wearing the City shirt. Having seen the team in recent weeks, I know we need to start scoring goals and creating more chances so a striker and investment in the wide areas is something that will be of a priority."

Urging fans to unite and get behind the club for a fresh start, Nightingale added: "At the moment the club is going through a bad patch but we all need to pull together. There are fans out there who, for whatever reason, have deserted the club but if we are going rise to this challenge we need everyone to pull together and for supporters to come back to the club, starting on Saturday when we entertain Merthyr."

Follow the EVO-STIK League Southern on Twitter at @SouthernLeague1