New arrival at the R Costings Abbey Stadium Gareth Baldwin agreed to take part in his first 'On the Spot' Q&A session for the official club website and programme last week. A good number of supporters took advantage of this opportunity and submitted their questions before the noon deadline last Friday, 5 February.
Gareth's full and frank answers to all of the the questions received from U's fans are below:
Q: What exactly are you here to achieve and what will your day-to-day role be within the Club?
Gareth: I don't have a day-to-day role at Cambridge United. My day job is as Sales Director of Corporate Innovations so I spend most of the week in my office, which is based in Oxford.
To bring some clarity to my involvement within the Club, I am using my experience within business and football to advise some of the off field team with guidance in areas the board feel I can add value to.
My most recent involvement was in assisting with the Trust night at the Belfry, where I supported Claire, Will, Jez, Jules and Robert with the overall organisation and it was a great team effort and I think we all left with a sense of pride in the evening.
Q: As the Chairman of Histon when United played away there last season, when there was a ticketing fiasco and I like many others were locked out, do you not think you should have apologised to the United fans at the time, and having not done so, would you not have gained some "brownie points" from the fans if you had issued a belated apology when you gave your first interview on the website recently?
Gareth: There was certainly a mistake in the anticipation of the amount of Cambridge fans that would attend the game and I accept that, as Chairman, that was my responsibility.
With hindsight an apology immediately after the game to the fans may have dealt with the matter more satisfactorily rather than waiting until the next fixture when Cambridge visited Histon and I published an apology in the Match Day Programme.
I am however aware that a lot of fans did not see that so to put the record straight I am happy to repeat that I sincerely apologise to all fans who were inconvenienced when they could not gain entry to the ground to watch their team.
Q: After being involved at Histon for many years, during which time United, both the Club and fans, have been slagged off by you frequently including in the press, why the sudden change of heart and desire to become involved with the U's? Fans like myself are highly suspicious of your motives.
Gareth: I have to say I was a little surprised by this question as I am not aware of any negative comments made by me about Cambridge United fans. I have checked all the programme notes from my time at Histon and any comments I have made in articles about CUFC fans in the media have only been positive comments, such as "the best Non League fans", "the fans saved the Club", "the loyalty of Cambridge fans is rare in football" and I am struggling to find anything negative; certainly nothing that you would describe as "slagged off" but I would be more than happy to meet you and answer any specific questions you might have.
Will Jones has my number so please feel free to contact Will on will.jones@cambridge-united.co.uk or 01223 566500 and he can arrange for us to meet up.
Q: While everyone will agree that you did a great job in bringing Histon up through the non-league pyramid, it has to be said that the state of Histon's finances are a complete mess. We at United have been through this before and nearly lost the club. What assurances can you provide that you won't leave us in the same mess that you have left Histon in?
Gareth: Firstly it's important that you know I did not leave Histon because of their financial position. I managed the Club from 1992, inheriting a debt of £100,000 which turned out to be nearer £200,000 and that was a lot of money then, especially as an Eastern Counties side with an average attendance of 35!
Other than Directors loans, the Club was in a similar position when I left but its League position, commercial income, fan base, facilities and volunteer structure was a little different to that of 1992.
More importantly, to set your mind at rest, Cambridge United have a Financial Controller as well as a Chairman and Board of Directors who are all too aware of the damage of administration, and in CFU a partner in the Club that cares passionately about the Club and it's financial position, however you should not take this as a safety blanket for financial security.
All clubs operating in football that have no television income will always find it difficult to survive and compete with the best supported and best commercially run clubs, therefore we need to make sure the fan base continues to grow, along with the commercial income the Club generates, to provide Martin with what he needs to compete with the best, but it won't happen overnight.
Q: How does the reported financial situation at Histon following your tenure square with your public statement that you aim to bring stability to the Club?
Gareth: Hopefully some of your question has been answered above but to answer you further, I see stability as not just financial.
Some people have made the mistake of thinking money covers up incompetency, but finance is just part of the overall picture. Stability is about having a consistent approach to how people are treated and valued, its about conduct, its about longevity and honesty, and its about creating a positive and welcoming environment that fans, sponsors, volunteers and visiting clubs as well as our players enjoy. That's what creates foundations that allow sustained growth and progress and everyone at CUFC has a role to play in achieving all these things.
Q: Gareth, after the ill feeling towards you regarding the locking out of ticket holding U's fans do you feel you have some way to go to endear yourself to the fans?
Gareth: Yes is the simple answer. I know that I have bridges to build with some fans and in time I have no doubt that will be possible. I have already met with CFU and at a game recently when I met with fans in the Habbin everyone was given a straight answer to any question and as you would expect now that I am at Cambridge, people have been very kind and made me feel welcome.
Q: Gareth, I'm sure you are aware Cambridge United no longer own the Abbey Stadium and there is a lot of politics surrounding the ownership of the ground, how we lost it and with individuals and interested parties looking to get their hands on it - what is your view of the ground situation and the best way forwards for the Club in regards to it?
Gareth: It would seem on the face of it that the Club was left in a shockingly bad way by the sale of its ground, let alone the conditions of the sale and the annual rent.
I am not saying Steve or John did anything that any other businessman would not have done as a purchaser, but it's clear whoever was the custodian of the Club during the sale let Cambridge United's fans and the Club down badly.
Generating 'x' million pounds of capital investment so that the club can buy back the ground is very high on everyone's agenda and once that funding is found its very important that the ground is placed in a trust with a covenant that never allows this type of thing to ever happen again, as you say its political, complicated and not without some major hurdles so it will take time.
Q: Your wife was appointed the Secretary at the Club recently - some supporters see this as some part of a master plan, with Wayne Purser having been pushed out of the Club to make way for her, what are your views and did you have any input into the decision for her to be given the role?
Gareth: I am flattered that people think I could execute such a plan, however, I can honestly say that until very recently Lisa was very unsure about ever working in football again. Not because of anything negative about Cambridge United but because of the hurt she felt at leaving a club she had invested 16 years of her life into, mostly as a volunteer.
However as you will see Lisa has a great deal to offer any business and so after many, many discussions she applied for the job on the evening prior to applications closing. There was 100% transparency in the process with Lisa attending two interviews before being selected by Robert Smith.
You will see once you get to know Lisa and I that integrity is very important to us and my position on the appointment of the new Club Secretary has been consistent from the outset - Robert should select the best person for the job and I am sure if you speak to the staff they can confirm the process was robust and professional and I had no input whatsoever.
In time you can make your own judgments on Lisa and myself but for now you can rest assured your Club completed a process that was consistent with any application for a position of employment, without favour.
Q: I'm confused by your and Lisa's arrival at the Club. You had no intention to get involved in football until the start of next season but now are on the board here and the other said she didn't want to be secretary of another football yet has that position here!
Gareth: I can understand your confusion over Lisa's arrival as its not something I expected either, however with Wayne deciding to step down as Club Secretary an opportunity presented itself and after much thought and consideration by Lisa and I about whether she should apply for the job we concluded that her experience and love of football and the people in the game made working in football something Lisa would like to do again, so at the 11th hour Lisa applied for the job and was awarded it on merit.
My arrival may surprise you but if you knew me you would know I had every intention of returning to football. I accept that until January it was not a foregone conclusion that I would be returning to the Abbey but once I had taken a look at a few clubs, my heart was set on coming back to the Club I had supported home and away for many years as a child and young adult.
Q: Can you confirm you are joining as a volunteer and have not, nor will you receive shares in the Club for your volunteers? Can you also confirm that you will not will you be entitled to a percentage of any money you brings into the Club via a limited company, partnership, sole trader, self employed person or any other means?
Gareth: A fair question. I am pleased to confirm that I will not be paid by the Club, or be entitled to shares, earn a percentage of any commercial revenue I generate or be claiming expenses. I love football and truly believe I can add value and make a difference at Cambridge United, all be it as a volunteer who works in Oxford Monday to Friday.
Q: Everyone is aware you are a big fan of Steve Fallon; he's a legend at Cambridge United, too. Do you think we'll see him involved at the Club in some capacity, and have you met yet with Martin Ling and the players? The rumors are you will bring in Fal during the summer!?
Gareth: I have the utmost respect for Steve Fallon he is one of the finest people I have been privileged to work with in my life, few people work together for ten years and build a relationship like we had, so its a fair question for you to ask about him coming to the Abbey.
The answer though is very simple; there are no plans for Steve to join Cambridge United in any capacity, despite Steve having such a deep love of Cambridge United from his days as a player he does not see himself working here. I do hope Steve will be a regular in the Hospitality facility as a match day legend because being in his company is always a pleasure.
Yes, I have spent time with Martin Ling and some of the players and I am impressed with Martin. He is clearly a winner and despite the unrest when he joined, then left, then re-joined the Club again, he knows what he needs to do to bring future success to Cambridge United.
He is realistic in how much work and commitment that will take from everyone. Our initial challenge is to provide Martin with the support, structure and finance he needs to bring in the staff and players required.
Q: What's been your favourite Cambridge United memory?
Gareth: Two things stand out for me; Firstly, as an Arsenal fan to be on the pitch warming up with the team ahead of the FA Cup tie at Highbury was pretty special, seeing the stadium the morning of the game was the stuff of dreams, but to walk out with the team, with Tony Adams two feet away well…kid in a sweet shop comes to mind!
My second special memory was the Wembley trip, walking out at Wembley with the players and staff is one of the top three emotional things in my life, as I have said before, the journey home having beaten Chesterfield was pretty special as well. There are many other things but these two are my headlines.
Q: What excited you the most about coming back to Cambridge United?
Gareth: Being back in football is exciting but to be back at the club that I supported as a child and young man means I am again at a club that has an emotional tie, and that's important.
Q: What have been your first impressions of the Club since arriving here?
Gareth: There is a huge weight of expectation amongst the fans and a desire amongst many for the Club to return to the Football League, so harnessing all that positive energy and turning it into a clear path to promotion is the challenge ahead.
Q: Where do you see the U's in 5 years time?
Gareth: I read that and thought, is that a trick question? I certainly see Cambridge United in the Football League and I think anything other than that in five years would be failure by everyone charged with the Club's well being and future.
Q: You must have some fond memories of the last 18 years and what you built at Histon - should things change there in the future, would you ever consider a return?
Gareth: I was very fortunate to work with some very special and highly motivated people. I believe a Club is all about the people involved in it and those like minded people at Histon allowed the Club to achieve success and make the last ten years I was there exceptional. However I have done my time at Histon FC and even if things change in the future I won't be returning.
Q: Finally Gareth, to draw this Question and Answer session to a close, what is the key message you have for the Cambridge United Supporters out there reading and listening to this?
I am a great believer in everyone working together to achieve a common goal, and I want that common goal to be promotion back to the Football League, but success is not something you can demand, its something that has to be earned.
So everyone associated with the Club has to do everything in their power to help achieve that goal and with everyone working together anything is possible.
Thanks for the questions, some of them really got me thinking, but if you have any questions in the future please do get in touch via Will at any time, and I will be only too pleased to respond to you.
I'd also like to say a big thank you to those of you who have gone out of your way to make me welcome at your Club.
All the best,
Gareth
Cambridge United: YOUR CITY - YOUR CLUB
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