Fans Forum

By Dan Smith
April 18 2002

The clubs second Fans Forum was held in the supporters club tonight, with John Taylor, Dale Brookes and Gary Harwood answering a host of fans questions.

The evening on a whole was very negative, with a lot of questions about the failure of the team this season and the financial struggle off the field.
To start with quite a lot of the focus was on John Beck and why he had so much freedom in signing players. Gary Harwood explained that John Beck had convinced the board, that if he was allowed to sign the players he wanted, he would be able to keep Cambridge United in the 2nd Division this season. As we all know this is not the way it turned out. The Chairman Mr.Harwood then told us that in the past this club has taken gambles, and they had paid off. Obviously in this case the gamble had not paid off, but being a club like ours we have to be prepared to take a gamble.
Gary Harwood then said what is quite obvious to most fans, that there are too many players all too happy to sit around at the club and just pick up their pay-cheque, but because of their contracts there is nothing the club can do about it.
With regards to Ian Ashbee's comments in the media recently that there are players sitting in the reserves on 2 or 3 times as much pay as he is, Gary Harwood said that there definately wasn't a significant amount of players on 2 times as much, let alone 3 times as much.
The main details of the merger with City were then explained to us. If a deal can be met between the two clubs what will happen is this:
1st and most importantly of all the redevelopment will be paid for, with the North Stand being complete.
Secondly there will be a new training facility, which will be for both clubs.
Then there will be a new site for which the reserves and youths of both clubs will play at. This will have a small stand so that the general public will still be able to watch all the matches.
Shaggy was then asked wether he would consider dusting off his boots and playing alongside some of the youngsters at the club. He had discussed with Dale Brooks starting to train again and getting match fit, but Dale Brooks wouldn't let him!
Shaggy commenting on wether the space in the team left by him had ever been replaced he said "You'll never replace me!".
When asked about Adam Tann and his potential, John Taylor spoke very highly of him. He told the crowd "Adam Tann is a fantastic player who could play at the very very top, but because of his height he may never quite make it".
Obviously going throughout a whole season without picking up a win away from home was going to be questioned about, to which all Shaggy said was "We'll put that right on Saturday!". Let's hope so! He also confirmed that David Bridges will be starting on Saturday. So you heard it here first, David Bridges is to make his full debut for the club on Saturday!
The last couple of points were on Andy Duncan's contract situation and on wether the pitch would be moved. Shaggy said of Andy Duncan's contract situation that he has an injury at the moment, which could keep him out for some time. Depending on how that develops and the financial state of the club at the time, he will be offered a new contract. And there is no confirmed decision on if the pitch is going to be moved or not yet, but a decision will be made shortly.
Hope this has been of help if you weren't able to make the fans forum or if you were!