Jimmy Quinn was touted as a possible City boss when they were hanging on for Stuart McCall.

Quinn, who spent nine months at Valley Parade as a striker in 1989, returns on Saturday in charge of troubled Bournemouth.

And his former City team-mate Mark Ellis today revealed that he chucked Quinn’s name in the hat when the club were discussing their next manager last summer.

Ellis said: “When Mark (Lawn) was speaking to me about trying to get Stuart, Jimmy was one of the other managers I mentioned along with Lee Sinnott.

“Jimmy did a great job at Cambridge and I thought it was only a matter of time before he got them back in the league. I’m surprised he left them but I don’t know the reasons behind it.”

Former Northern Ireland international Quinn netted 14 goals in 35 games for City – one of ten league clubs he played for.

Terry Yorath signed him from Leicester for £210,000 on transfer deadline day in March 1989 before he left midway through the next season for West Ham in a £320,000 deal. Quinn later joined Bournemouth.

Ellis said: “Without mentioning names, some lads come in and you think they’re useless but you could see as soon as Jimmy arrived in training that he was a really good player.

“He had good technique and you could tell he was a goal-scorer. He was also a really good lad. I remember we went over to Malta to play and he seemed to know everyone because he’d been there the month before with Northern Ireland.

“It will be good to see him again and I’m hoping to catch up at their hotel before the game. Jimmy has got a tough job on his hands with Bournemouth now but he probably wanted to get back in the league as soon as he could.”

Quinn took over the south-coast club a fortnight ago after Kevin Bond was sacked. The Cherries started the season on minus 17 points and are still looking for a first win.

Ellis, now back in the City fold as coach of the under-16s, was at Valley Parade for the Exeter game. As a former winger, he was delighted with the electrifying performances from widemen Omar Daley and Joe Colbeck.

He said: “Both of them were fantastic and I’m really pleased for Joe. He’s a local lad and you always want to see them break through.

“He’s probably one of the lowest paid there but he always has a go and I think some of the stick he has got in the past has been unfair.

“Hopefully he is proving a few people wrong now and he can keep doing that. It’s great to see.”