Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris explains departure of assistant Jason Euell

Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris felt that the time was right to part company with assistant Jason Euell – but his replacement may not arrive at the club until the summer.

Euell arrived at the Cledara Abbey Stadium last July under the previous coaching regime of Garry Monk, who was sacked in February.

And it was announced earlier this week that the former Wimbledon, Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough frontman had left the club with immediate effect.

Explaining the thought process behind the decision, Harris said: “Jason – what a lovely lad and a great bloke. I really enjoyed my couple of weeks with him.

“The thought process when a new head coach comes in is sometimes it’s all change, but before when I came in at Cambridge I came in on my own and reviewed the situation and I’ve done the same again.

“I’ve reviewed the situation, given people and opportunity to work with me and then we make judgment calls as we go along.

“Jason is a really, really good man with some real ability around the training ground and on the training pitch, but we just felt as a football club that we needed a change moving forward. We need to change the culture and the set-up as we go.

“Some decisions are best made – for the individual and for us as a football club – at the right time.”

In terms of Euell’s successor, there have been suggestions that Harris will turn to his long-term assistant David Livermore.

The pair have previously joined forces at Millwall, Cardiff City and Gillingham, but Harris has insisted that no decision has been made just yet.

He added: “Jason leaving leaves a space in the coaching set-up, but I haven’t got someone lined up to come in today.

“We’re not going to rush into making that appointment. That will be made towards the summer, if not over the summer period.”

In terms of the remaining coach staff, Harris is not anticipating any further departures before the end of the campaign – meaning that Barry Corr will remain in his assistant’s role.

“Barry is with us, yes. It’s important you have a balance between the people that know the football club and know the area and the group of players – and then having a thought process from the outside,” said Harris.

“Jason has left us at the moment and everyone else is working diligently to improve us and support me. Everything is a relationship-builder and a work in progress.

“I get judged every day in my job by the players and on match days by the fanbase, so why shouldn’t the players and the staff be the same?

“I’ve enjoyed working with everybody so far and I look forward to working with everyone. At the moment Jason is the only change.”