Ex-Eagles captain Gavin Hoyte says his former club have a bright future after appointing Lee Howarth as Stuart Bimson's successor.

The 22-year-old defender returned to his old stomping ground with Cambridge United on Monday night and was impressed with what he saw, despite coming off on the losing side.

Hoyte formed one half of an impressive centre-half pairing with Howarth during his time at the New Eyrie and says they have the right man in charge.

He said: "They look like they've got a good side this year and I definitely think they'll stay up. The play-offs might be a tough ask but they've definitely made a good choice in Lee Howarth, he really helped me a lot while I was there."

On the game, he added: "I found it all right to be fair, it's never nice losing but it is always nice to go back to a former club and even more so at Bedford Town because I really enjoyed my time there."