It's good news and bad news time, warns Chairman Gary Harwood as he brings us up to date with the ITV Digital protests, the Club's finances, and the redevelopment of the North end of the ground:
Yesterday I attended two significant events: A Football League protest concerning the actions of Carlton and Granada, and a Cambridge United Board Meeting.
The protest was well attended by member clubs of the Football League. I do not have the exact list of clubs represented but I estimate that between 60 and 65 League clubs turned out, most with two representatives - their respective Chairman and Secretary. On police advice a small delegation (about 40 people) went to Carlton first and this was followed by the full contingent going to Granada.
I found it surreal - over 120 business men and women in suits, kept behind barriers, each carrying a placard proclaiming that Carlton and Granada are bad for football's health but standing in almost silence surrounded by national media, local media and the police. It must have seemed a very strange demonstration to London's tourists and passers by.
At the end of each of the two vigils a small group (led by Delia Smith of Norwich and Barry Hearn of Orient - good to have these two celebrities as this certainly brought about increased media attention) entered the TV companies to ask for a meeting with their Chairmen and to hand deliver a letter to them. Not unexpectedly, both Chairman were "out for the day". The next twelve days will involve similar protests but the men and women in suits will be replaced by fans in their respective club colours. This should certainly keep our case in the media and in the public's eye leading up to the court hearing.
The Board Meeting in the evening focused on two main agenda items - the club's finances and redevelopment. I am pleased that I can now say that I am very confident that we will survive through July and we will kick off the new season on 10th August having manouvered our way through the most difficult three months financially since I joined the Board over 12 years ago.
Unfortunately, however, that will not be the end of our financial problems. The new TV deal announced last week is a very good deal in the current football/TV climate. My earlier estimates of our share for 2002/03 were on the low side. I am pleased that Cambridge United's share in the first year of the new TV deal will be approximately £105,000. Added to this will be our basic payments from the League (as a result of other commercial income) taking our total distribution from the Football League up to £199,000 for the year.
So what's the bad news? Our budget for 2002/03 was produced some months ago (assuming we would be a third division club) and it was roughly £270,000 higher than this. The second bit of bad news is that, rather than receiving the £199,000 up front or in monthly instalments, it will largely be paid in two main instalment in October 2002 and April 2003.
That means we have real cash problems to address in both August and September so the financial pain goes on. We really do need to achieve a substantial settlement of the monies due from ITV Digital parent companies - Carlton and Granada - or the pain could become unbearable.
Our season ticket holders have played an enormous part in helping us get through the summer. I thank each and every one of you. What we really need now is our 'pay on the day' supporters to show a similar commitment and turn up to our home games in August and September in numbers beyond our imagination. Gates of 4,000 - 5,000 would be a tremendous show of support for not only the football club but also for what I hope will be an exciting team to watch next season.
As everyone is aware, the new South Stand is nearing completion and the Abbey, once again, looks like a proper, four sided football stadium. The new stand will be open for our home game against Darlington on 10th August. If the Football League agrees, we would like home fans to be the first to use it. We will shortly make announcements as to how tickets can be secured in advance and how season ticket holders (if they want to) could switch to the South Stand for the opening game.
The 'official opening' of the stand is likely to be a few weeks later to ensure that all of our fans and other guests are back from their summer holidays and can be present. We have not decided which game will be the 'official opening' but our current thoughts point towards the York City game which we may also make another 'family day'.
The North Stand remains another significant financial challenge. We are still approximately £600,000 - £700,000 short of funds and, as we have said many times in the past, we will not start any redevelopment until we are certain we have the funds to complete it.
Earlier this year I was encouraged by a series of discussions I had with Cambridge City and, had those discussions concluded in the way I felt both clubs wanted them to, this funding gap would have disappeared. The discussions continue but at a speed that frustrates me and the Board and I do not now expect to get much nearer to any serious conclusion before the Spring of 2003 at the earliest.
I had also hoped that the appearance of the new South Stand would encourage more businesses to come forward wanting to be part of the complete redevelopment of the Abbey Stadium. Unfortunately that has not happened yet and so the North end will have to remain 'on hold' longer than we all had hoped. I sincerely hope it will not be 'on hold' too long as, without the ability to produce the commercial income the North end promises, the future continues to look bleak.
So there is good news but also bad news. When you fix one problem another one steps up and kicks you even harder. This is not new to us - our whole history has been this way. It's just that now it seems the 'pain' gets worse after each kick. We have been 'United' for many years but the unity test we have faced over the last few months, and we will face over the coming months, is tough.
I know the vast majority of our fans will understand how to pass these tough tests and I thank you in advance for the continued support we will need to survive.
Gary Harwood
Previous Main Features:
14May02 - Summer At The Abbey Stadium
02May02- Family Day A Huge Success
21Apr02 - Fans Groups Call For Direct Action
06Apr02 - League Chairman Thanks Fans For Support
30Mar02 - ITV Digital - Crowd Statistics & Viewing Figures
24Mar02 - LDV Vans Trophy Final Photo Feature
17Mar02 - Follow The U's To Cardiff!
10Mar02 - Away Day Blues
03Mar02 - The Best Of The Best?
24Feb02 - The Future of Football?
17Feb02 - U's Fans On Sky TV's Soccer AM
10Feb02 - U's Fans Feature On ITV Digital Quiz
02Feb02 - A Week In The Life of PR Manager Graham Eales
20Jan02 - U's Players Get Darth Vader Treatment
13Jan02 - Kit Carson Explains His 'Head of Talent Development' Role
05Jan02 - Dale Brooks Enjoying New Role
04Dec01 - U's Players Try Out Premiership Physio Machine
10Nov01 - U's Launch New Away Kit
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