Former Shrewsbury Town boss Jimmy Quinn today made his case for the AFC Telford United manager’s job – insisting he would build a team to make the fans proud.

Quinn has already contacted Bucks chairman Lee Carter to express his interest in replacing Rob Smith, who departed on Friday.

The former Northern Ireland international certainly has the right pedigree, having enjoyed a decent record at Northwich Victoria before guiding Town back to the Football League in 2004.

He has also managed as high as the Championship with Reading, as well as recent spells at Cambridge United and Bournemouth.

And Quinn has done his homework, having taken in the Bucks’ 3-1 defeat at Vauxhall Motors on Saturday in their final game of a disappointing Blue Square North season.

“I’m experienced at what I do, and I think it’s the type of experience that Telford need,” said Quinn today.

“I’ve always sent out teams that would go through a brick wall for me, and I would do that again.

“I have to say I saw a little bit of complacency on Saturday. I would like to have seen one or two of the lads working a little bit harder.

“But that wouldn’t be a problem – I feel I could turn it around with a view to winning the league, never mind getting into the play-offs.”

Quinn – who has previously worked with current Bucks players Stuart Whitehead, Danny Carey-Bertram and Mark Beesley – is also adamant that his past history with Telford’s fierce rivals Shrewsbury should not count against him.

“There have always been close connections between the two clubs and I don’t look at it in those terms anyway,” he said.

“You’ve always got to win around the fans, and that goes hand in hand with winning games of football.”

Big names including ex-England internationals Andy Sinton and Tim Flowers are believed to have thrown their hats into the ring.

Northwich chief Andy Preece could also be a contender, while former Albion striker Carl Heggs and ex-Port Vale boss Dean Glover are also showing interest.

By CHRIS HUDSON