At Thursday evening's Fans Forum, the usual format was followed where football was discussed in the first half and off-field matters in the second half.

The panel for the second half was chairman Phil Law (PL), Vice-Chairman and Fans Director Brian Attmore (BA), and directors Terry Baker (TB) and George Rolls (GR). Matt Gooding reports:

First Question: What were the reasons behind Norman Gautrey's (NG) departure?

PL: NG worked really hard for the club, often putting in 70-hour weeks. He has implemented a lot of changes at the club in the commercial arena and in the back office.

His appointment was never meant to be long-term, but "not entirely sure" of the exact reasons for him departing now. Issues often arise at board meetings where people disagree but didn't know of anything specific that caused NG to go.

Question: Are efforts being made to make him reverse his decision?

PL: Had a long chat with NG and he is very resolute in his state of mind and doesn't think he'll change it.

BA: Not happy that he's gone but as a volunteer have to respect his decision. Hasn't spoken to NG since he made his decision but hopes he will reconsider.

Question: Having spoken to NG I was under the impression that he intended to stay around for a bit longer. What happened?

PL: Again issues have come up at various board meetings, but nothing so serious that PL felt would precipitate NG deciding to leave.

Question: What were the reasons behind the redundancies in the commercial department at the end of last season?

PL: Part of NG's remit was to review the front office, and he felt that fairly radical restructuring was needed. It wasn't a case of individuals being made redundant but more the roles they were in. For example, having NG at the club as Chief Executive meant that a lot of the work carried out by the general manager was being replicated.

Question: Regarding Ben Farrell's aborted transfer to Histon, did any board member shake hands on a deal with Histon without consulting the manager?

PL: Had telephone conversation with Gareth Baldwin. He and Ben Farrell both happy with deal, but communication between PL and Gary Brabin was poor and he holds his hands up to that. Feels he was used as a smokescreen to cover up the Craig Pope story.

GR: Ben Farrell had turned down a loan move to Histon earlier in the close season. Recently his agent got involved, and that's where it went slightly wrong as the manager no longer wanted to release him.

Question: Will PL be having less contact with Gareth Baldwin after the Farrell affair?

PL: Considers Baldwin a friend and doesn't think there's anything wrong with "knowing your enemy". Has no intention of not talking to him.

Question: PR coming out of the club over the summer was appalling. What are you going to do to improve it?

BA: The board were worried that expectations at the start of this season would be too high, and put together a five point plan to move the club forward. Jimmy Quinn (JQ) agreed to this, but didn't implement it. Other clubs were busy making signings and it didn't seem like JQ's heart was in the job, as players were leaving and not being replaced. This led to a lot of negative publicity and rumours of financial turmoil.

Aware that PR has to be better and currently in discussions with someone who can help in this arena. As fans director BA now has someone helping him with his own PR. All about getting things out at the right time without spin.

Question: To Terry Baker; Are you happy to be back and have you resolved your well-publicised differences with other board members?

TB: Was extremely unhappy to leave but felt someone needed to take responsibility for Abbey Aid failure. Pleased to be back on the board, and believes most decisions taken recently have been in the best interests of the club. Acknowledges that the board occasionally "balls up", but believes the club is in the best state it's been in for 30 years.

Impatient to get out of the Conference and believes we have the manager and players to do it. Need to move forward sensibly, and can't rely on Paul Barry and Adrian Hanauer to keep bailing us out financially.

Question: Why was a ticket agency used for the play-off final, and why were the prices put up by £1 for the Burton play-off game?

GR: Still thinks putting £1 on the admission was the right thing to do. Invested heavily in the squad during January to finance promotion push and needed to get that money back. Ticket agency was used for Wembley because the club staff couldn't handle so many ticket orders in a short space of time.

BA: No way we could have dealt with the ticketing arrangements for Wembley in nine days. Feels the club could have had more help from the Football Conference in their handling of the situation. CUFC were approached by 10/12 ticket agencies wanting to work on our behalf. Thinks it would be better if the Football Conference came to clubs and offered them a choice of pre-approved ticket agents.

Question: Why do the Junior U's discounts now only apply in the South Stand, rather than throughout the main stand as last season?

BA: Pricing last year did offer fantastic value, but different structure this year and it will be reviewed again at the end of the season. Feels we have pushed on with the same ticket price for as far as we could. Need to get back into the Football League in the next couple of years but doesn't want to "blow the club" getting there.

Question: Now that the clubs finances are in a better state, is the legality of the ground sale being investigated? Would the club be prepared to take Bideawhile to court?

PL: Still considering all the options. Feels there were a lot of inconsistencies and dubious practices employed in the deal. Club doing research in conjunction with CFU which is beginning to bear fruit. Hopes there will be more to say in the next couple of months on this subject.

GR: An offer of more than £4million was recently made to Bideawhile to repurchase the ground but this has been rejected.

Question: How does PL intend to take the club forward when he has lost the trust of CFU and many members of the fan base?

PL: Admits he has detractors. Appointed by the board of directors and will step down if asked to do so by the board.

Question: Whose idea was it to arrange friendlies with Peterborough as part of the Scott Rendell deal? Seems a strange idea to play a friendly with your local rivals?

GR: Arranged after a discussion between GR and Barry Fry. Thought it would attract a lot of interest but Peterborough's decision to use a ticket agent meant sales were poor and it had to be cancelled. The friendlies were arranged separately to the financial agreement between the clubs over Rendell's transfer.

Question: Talk us through the cancellation of the Cambridge City game. Is it true that £2,000 was offered by York Construction to CUFC as compensation for cancelling the match?

PL: No compensation offered, there's nothing in that at all. JQ arranged match on same day as board arranged one with Kings Lynn. Cancelled the City match partly because of rumours that were circulating at the time. In hindsight, shouldn't have listened to them.

Question: PL should resign as CFU were told that there was a £2,000 offer of compensation made to CUFC by York Construction. Is there any truth in the rumour that Brian York and PL are in discussions with Bideawhile over the repurchase of the ground?

PL: No truth in that. Brian York has no interest in CUFC. £2,000 offer has been taken out of context.

Question: Are there any discussions taking place with Cambridge City over a potential groundshare.

TB: An offer was made to Cambridge City two years ago and turned down by them. Feels it will never happen now and that we have to move on.

Question: Can you assure us there will be no vendettas or banning orders in response to the furore surrounding the "Burton three"? Also will the club be following its Club Charter from now on?

GR: There will be no vendettas. The "Burton Three" situation shouldn't have happened and has now been resolved. Personally thinks the club should look at whether to rescind bans of other people who are currently not allowed to attend games.

Question: Did the other directors know about the offer of £2,000 compensation offered by Brian York regarding the Cambridge City game.

BA: Didn't know about it until told by CFU committee members.

TB: Didn't know about it. Would have accepted it as the club needs the money.

GR: Didn't know. Backs the chairman, who he believes does a lot of work behind the scenes that goes unnoticed. Would love to see NG return but is confident the club won't die just because he has left.

Question: The club has become a laughing stock over the way Health and Safety regulations are applied. Why do we pay so much attention to what the Safety Advisory Group and Cambridgeshire Police say?

BA: People may think we are too strict but safety has to be paramount. Have to accept that when we go into a football ground some civil liberties are eroded. Doesn't think this is right but that's how it is. Feels fines levied at "Burton Three" were very harsh.

Question: United fans have been lied to too often. Will the board be taking steps to repair relationships with fans?

PL: Am probably the most accessible chairman the club has ever had. Am happy to meet with fans and discuss any issues they may have.

Many thanks to Matt Gooding for his report.

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