Jez George vows to continue as Cambridge United manager

Jez George has vowed to continue as Cambridge United manager after appearing to call his own position into question last weekend.

"If you're judging it this afternoon, I'm not good enough," he said after the 4-1 home defeat by Wrexham.

Explaining the remark, he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire he had given an honest assessment of the performance.

"All that matters is what's right for this football club - that's all I've ever been concerned with," he said.

George has worked for the club for six years, running the club's academy and filling the role of director of football before stepping into the manager's hot-seat, firstly in a caretaker capacity when Martyn Ling was sacked in February 2011.

He admitted he had taken the job "a little reluctantly initially" but it was what the team needed at the time.

"We've assessed that all the way through and will continue to assess that - I do that every single day, regardless of winning, drawing, losing, because the most important thing is this football club," he said.

"But this week the most important thing has been that people in positions of responsibility at this club show a little bit of character, a little bit of fight.

"If I don't do that, why would I expect any of the players to do it?"

After strengthening the squad over the summer, George was hopeful they could mount a promotion challenge this term but they are currently 17th in the table and not won any of their last five games.

"At this moment in time, people are talking about my future - well, that's not important," continued George.

"What's important is Cambridge United Football Club and getting 11 players on that pitch [against AFC Telford] on Saturday fighting for the common cause, willing to run for 90 minutes and wearing that shirt with pride."

Cambridge have lost midfielder Harrison Dunk for four to six weeks after a cartilage operation, but this weekend George should have Jonathan Thorpe and Andy Pugh fit after injuries and Michael Gash, Adam Marriott and Jack Eades all back from loan spells elsewhere.

"It's best to have all your available options around you at this moment in time," he said.