Sunday, December 19, 2004
Cambridge 1 Bury 1
Ricky Duncan took charge of the side on Saturday after the sacking of Herve Renard, and immediately made four changes to the team. The outcome was much the same with the team keeping most of the possession but failing to take their chances. Cambridge now go into the Christmas period in a relegation place.
News From The Treatment Room
Abdou El Kholti returned to full training this week while Franco Nacca is back in training after a throat infection but after a year out and two operations on his horrific ankle injury, he is a long way from full fitness. Adam Tann and John Ruddy are still ruled out with knee and shoulder injuries respectively.
Next At The Abbey
On Boxing day the team are away at Mansfield, they return to The Abbey on Tuesday 28th against a promotion chasing Yeovil side for a 3pm kick off. This is followed by another home game on New Years Day when the visitors will be Boston, please note that this game kicks off at 12.30pm. The Christmas period will be crucial for Cambridge, they are two points behind Shrewsbury but are starting to lose contact with the rest of the division
Abbey Days Every Week In The Haverhill Echo
Ricky Duncan took charge of the side on Saturday after the sacking of Herve Renard, and immediately made four changes to the team. The outcome was much the same with the team keeping most of the possession but failing to take their chances. Cambridge now go into the Christmas period in a relegation place.
News From The Treatment Room
Abdou El Kholti returned to full training this week while Franco Nacca is back in training after a throat infection but after a year out and two operations on his horrific ankle injury, he is a long way from full fitness. Adam Tann and John Ruddy are still ruled out with knee and shoulder injuries respectively.
Next At The Abbey
On Boxing day the team are away at Mansfield, they return to The Abbey on Tuesday 28th against a promotion chasing Yeovil side for a 3pm kick off. This is followed by another home game on New Years Day when the visitors will be Boston, please note that this game kicks off at 12.30pm. The Christmas period will be crucial for Cambridge, they are two points behind Shrewsbury but are starting to lose contact with the rest of the division
Abbey Days Every Week In The Haverhill Echo
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Oxford 2 Cambridge 1
Yet another poor performance by The U’s at lowly Oxford leaves United in a poor position going in towards the crucial Christmas concentration of games. Only a good performance by Shane Tudor and a goal by Jermaine Easter provided any joy for the travelling Cambridge fans.
Red Card Cancelled
Warren Goodhind's three match ban has been withdrawn as the FA upheld Cambridge United's claim for wrongful dismissal. The defender was dismissed for a 72nd minute challenge during the Scunthorpe match when referee ruled that he had led with his elbow and dismissed him for violent conduct. At the time United were leading 1-0 against the league leaders but lost to two last minute goals. This was certainly a case of a referee costing United three points.
Next At The Abbey
On Saturday The U’s are at home to mid table Bury. Four out of our five next games are against teams in the bottom half of the division. If the team doesn’t improve on the present form by the New Year there will need to be drastic changes. Earlier in the season club chairman Gary Harwood said, “Now is not the time to panic”, if results don’t improve over Christmas we will have to ask him for advice on when we can start to panic.
Yet another poor performance by The U’s at lowly Oxford leaves United in a poor position going in towards the crucial Christmas concentration of games. Only a good performance by Shane Tudor and a goal by Jermaine Easter provided any joy for the travelling Cambridge fans.
Red Card Cancelled
Warren Goodhind's three match ban has been withdrawn as the FA upheld Cambridge United's claim for wrongful dismissal. The defender was dismissed for a 72nd minute challenge during the Scunthorpe match when referee ruled that he had led with his elbow and dismissed him for violent conduct. At the time United were leading 1-0 against the league leaders but lost to two last minute goals. This was certainly a case of a referee costing United three points.
Next At The Abbey
On Saturday The U’s are at home to mid table Bury. Four out of our five next games are against teams in the bottom half of the division. If the team doesn’t improve on the present form by the New Year there will need to be drastic changes. Earlier in the season club chairman Gary Harwood said, “Now is not the time to panic”, if results don’t improve over Christmas we will have to ask him for advice on when we can start to panic.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
A Crucial Week
There was no game for The U’s last week due to the FA Cup second round, but it was an important week to United’s future. The club has sold the ground, for £2million to a company set up by a Cambridge director John Howard and a colleague of his. The club will rent the ground off the company for £200,000 per year for at least 50 years.
This deal has allowed the club to pay back all its other debts, which has reduced some interest payments. It also gives the club around £500,000 working capital. The club has now some time to reduce its costs and develop income from the ground. There have been rumours of redundancies among the non-playing staff.
If the club can develop the ground, it will be able to buy back the ground for £2million plus a hefty premium, but it only has this right for a few years.
The fans trust CFU reluctantly supported this move as being the only viable option at this time, but the trust were very critical of the board for allowing the finances to reach this crisis level.
Next At The Abbey
The team are away at Oxford this Saturday but return to the Abbey the following Saturday against promotion chasing Bury.
There was no game for The U’s last week due to the FA Cup second round, but it was an important week to United’s future. The club has sold the ground, for £2million to a company set up by a Cambridge director John Howard and a colleague of his. The club will rent the ground off the company for £200,000 per year for at least 50 years.
This deal has allowed the club to pay back all its other debts, which has reduced some interest payments. It also gives the club around £500,000 working capital. The club has now some time to reduce its costs and develop income from the ground. There have been rumours of redundancies among the non-playing staff.
If the club can develop the ground, it will be able to buy back the ground for £2million plus a hefty premium, but it only has this right for a few years.
The fans trust CFU reluctantly supported this move as being the only viable option at this time, but the trust were very critical of the board for allowing the finances to reach this crisis level.
Next At The Abbey
The team are away at Oxford this Saturday but return to the Abbey the following Saturday against promotion chasing Bury.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Back To Losing Ways
After last weeks great 3-1 win over Rushden & Diamonds, United were back to their usual losing ways this week, going down 2-1 at Notts County. Winger Shane Tudor scored a great goal for the U’s to equalise but they could not hold on for the win.
On-loan goalkeeper Lewis Price, who comes from Ipswich saved a penalty for United earlier on in the match.
U’s Stop Paying Wages
As reported in the national press this week United have not paid the players and staffs wages this month, instead waiting for the result of the EGM which will decide the future of the club that took place on Monday. At time of writing we do not know the outcome of the meeting, but it looks likely a deal has been agreed to sell the Abbey Stadium and lease it back from director John Howard. However, independent fans group Cambridge Fans United are still seeking other options, as they do not consider chairman Gary Harwood’s proposal to be in the best interests of the Club. They are currently trying to strike a deal with Cambridge City Council and local businesses to turn the club into a Community Football Club.
Next At The Abbey
The next game at the Abbey will see Cambridge United take on Bury on the 18 December, tickets as usual will be available from the club on 01223 566500.
After last weeks great 3-1 win over Rushden & Diamonds, United were back to their usual losing ways this week, going down 2-1 at Notts County. Winger Shane Tudor scored a great goal for the U’s to equalise but they could not hold on for the win.
On-loan goalkeeper Lewis Price, who comes from Ipswich saved a penalty for United earlier on in the match.
U’s Stop Paying Wages
As reported in the national press this week United have not paid the players and staffs wages this month, instead waiting for the result of the EGM which will decide the future of the club that took place on Monday. At time of writing we do not know the outcome of the meeting, but it looks likely a deal has been agreed to sell the Abbey Stadium and lease it back from director John Howard. However, independent fans group Cambridge Fans United are still seeking other options, as they do not consider chairman Gary Harwood’s proposal to be in the best interests of the Club. They are currently trying to strike a deal with Cambridge City Council and local businesses to turn the club into a Community Football Club.
Next At The Abbey
The next game at the Abbey will see Cambridge United take on Bury on the 18 December, tickets as usual will be available from the club on 01223 566500.
