It has been an eventful summer, both on and off the pitch, and we caught up with Chairman Gary Harwood to get an overview of recent developments and his thoughts on the future for Cambridge United.
The first major item of news during the close-season was the long-awaited approval of the plans for the next stage of redevelopment of the Abbey Stadium, which includes a new stand, Supporters Club, hotel and commercial premises at the Newmarket Road End, plus an extension to the rear of the Main Stand.
Planning approval was granted at the beginning of June and the first visible change is the relocation of the pitch towards the South Stand, in readiness for the demolition of the North Stand and Supporters Club.
Bringing us up to date with the current and future work going on behind the scenes, Gary explains that the invitations for contractors to tender for the Newmarket Road End and Main Stand redevelopment are currently being prepared, and will hopefully be ready to send out to potential contractors near the end of August.
Negotiations for pre-letting of the commercial space are ongoing, and a contractual agreement with the Supporters Club is due for completion imminently.
"Discussions about funding are ongoing, but they can't be finalised until we get the firm redevelopment cost and the pre-lets tied up contractually," he adds.
Looking ahead, Harwood hopes to have tender responses from potential contractors by the end of October, with the aim of having selected the contractor and negotiated the contract by the end of December.
The North Stand
"If all goes smoothly, with no major surprises, then we could be ready to move the Supporters Club in early January 2005 and start the twelve month redevelopment shortly afterwards," he explains.
"However there is little contingency time in this, so we could expect delays in any of those activities. If that happens and we miss the January start then we may have to push the start back to the end of the 2004/05 season, i.e. May/June 2005," he adds.
Two more off-field announcements were made as recently as last week, as Harwood unveiled a potentially exciting link with China.
On Monday the Chairman explained that the appointment of Dr. Johnny Hon to the board of directors has opened the door to new geography for Cambridge United, and as a result he has signed an agreement with the Chinatown Group, a Chinese company based in the UK.
Gary with Johnny Hon
The Chinatown Group arranges deals between UK organisations and companies in mainland China, and also has links with Chinese TV and TV stations in Europe that broadcast in Chinese.
"The agreement is to establish some CUFC-endorsed football academies in China," Harwood told the club website cambridgeunited.com. "It will identify the promising academies already in place and, once identified, put in place an agreement to help them recruit.
"We will periodically send staff to assist them and they will periodically send their best footballers to Cambridge United for intensive training. Chinatown will arrange the logistics of this."
In addition to being paid to coach the Chinese youngsters, the deal also gives the club links into Chinese businesses in China and ex-patriot Chinese elsewhere, because it is expected that when the first academies sign up with us, it will be national news on Chinese TV.
Harwood adds, "The reason Chinese academies would be interested in us - rather than say Colchester or Peterborough - is that Cambridge is a well-known name around the world because of the university.
"The publicity and interest generated in China will also open a further revenue stream and, once rolling, we would plan to take a team or teams (first team and youth team) to play against the Chinese teams affiliated with our academies.
"This may not happen next close season but, if not, would be during the close season after that."
The other announcement last week came on Friday when CFU chair Heather Wilkanowski was unveiled as the club's new Commercial Manager.
Harwood said, "We have known Heather for a very long time. She is not only a true U's fan but also a successful business and sales person who has had a few years off paid work whilst bringing up her young family.
"Heather's determination, knowledge, skills and experience will be key assets in what I am confident will be a successful period for both her and us."
Harwood added, "Our commercial targets for 2004/05 are the toughest they have ever been. On the other hand, some of the opportunities being created are also the most exciting ever. I know Heather relishes challenges and I am sure that Cambridge United's commercial challenge is a challenge she, along with the club's other commercial staff, are more than capable of rising up to. I wish her every success."
However the Chairman tempers his optimism as he expands on the ever-present theme of the club's finances, warning, "Times are still exceptionally tough and we are still aggressively implementing our medium to long term strategies.
"I am worried about the next couple of years until the redevelopment is finished and China is up and running at the predicted levels, and I am particularly worried about the next six months.
"I am hopeful that we can get through to the third round of the FA Cup as a minimum and then draw a big club."
However, Harwood hopes that attractive football and good results will attract more people to the Abbey and he is confident that we will have a better year commercially, but adds, "I am praying that some of the investment discussions taking place will materialise in an equity injection sooner rather than later."
On playing matters, Gary is delighted by the way the squad is shaping up. Herve Renard has added five permanent signings to the squad - Jermaine Easter, Ashley Nicholls, Abdul Elkholti (left), Igor Latte-Yedo and Louis-George Mongin (before his unfortunate knee injury).
"The five new signings are excellent news and re-signing Andy Duncan, Justin Walker and Warren Goodhind was also excellent news.
"I am also delighted with John Ruddy's emergence at such a young age as a potential goalkeeping star and the competition he will provide for Shaun.
"It was disappointing to lose Fred although, given our current squad, he probably would not have been a regular first choice - and to get a fee of any sort in the current climate was good although it does not go too far towards solving our continuing financial difficulties.
"I am also pleased that we have reduced the wage bill by not retaining a few players who were unlikely to figure a great deal in next season's first team squad," he continues, "and I have been very encouraged by the attitude and fitness levels of all of our players since their return.
"We have seen some encouraging pre-season performances from some of our youth players who have been involved in the games so far, and I am delighted with the technical skills being demonstrated and the style of play being implemented by the whole squad."
Gary concludes, "Hopefully, by putting all of the above into one package under a manager I have every confidence in - having now seen much more of how he operates on a daily basis - we will have an exciting season and, if so, I am looking forward to what could be achieved."
Interview by Andrea Thrussell.
This interview was first published in the match programme v Brighton on Saturday 31st July 2004
Previous features:
In Conversation With Herve Renard (August 2004)
Season Preview - team by team (July 2004)
Redevelopment - The Way Forward (June 2004)
End of Term Report 2003/04 (May 2004)
Randall Butt - The End of an Era (May 2004)
Gary Harwood's New Year Statement (January 2004)
'Bridge The Gap' - The Background (December 2003)
Abbey Stadium Plans Unveiled (October 2003)
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