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Over the past few days I have been asked on many occasions why CFU hold the firm belief that a move to hold an absolute minimum stake of 26 percent in Cambridge United is such an important concept. Indeed, possibly THE most important reason for CFUs existence. Here are the two main reasons.

The first is that holding a stake of that size will provide a protection to the club for the foreseeable future from a potential asset stripper or from the sort of people who are not interested in the football club per se but in the opportunities for self aggrandisement that control of the club might bring. Those self seeking individuals that insidiously find their way into boardrooms and gradually take over in the name of their own interests and not with the clubs future in mind.  When I say the club, by this I mean the supporters and the small shareholders, in other words the true fans. An increasing number of clubs have been placed in the position of threat or even going out of existence because of their dependency on one individual’s largesse and goodwill. Gretna is one example of this malaise in action; Darlington’s current sad situation   is another. A 26 per cent stake held by the fans gives a chance for a broad balance of views to be aired and also an aspect of governance against poor decision making not necessarily in the clubs and fans best interests.

Football club directors, in my own humble opinion, should be their as caretakers for the fans and custodians for the future custodians. Football clubs should not be about making shareholders or director’s money as an investment. Any profits should be used to provide the supporters with the best facilities and the team with the best players possible under the prevailing financial circumstances. 

I often wonder if we had bought the Abbey Stadium back several years ago, after the administration if it we would have had to re-sell it again by now. Either that or once again have borrowed against the asset to finance another failed promotion dream or directors whim. Twenty six percent would provide solid security for the ground as well and protect that vital asset against exploitation.

If the Cambridge Fans United trust had been in possession of 26 per cent at the time that the ground was sold then the Abbey Stadium would still be in the clubs ownership. I no longer have any wish to apportion blame for what happened then. Those concerned did what they felt was best at the time, constrained by the information that was available. To be totally honest CFU must share equally the blame along with the other major shareholders. We let the fans down on the evening of the EGM. We did have a large enough percentage on the night to ensure the club went into administration following the sterling work by Nick Pomery that day. We had a director on the board and others who could have stopped the process earlier. We are all to blame for the ground being sold and the current situation we face.

The time for recriminations is past, the solution is simple but not without hard work and effort by all concerned. We move forward with the aim of 26 percent always at the forefront of all we do.

All the bitterness and upheaval that was born on that November night continues to this very day. Until protection for the future is provided it will surely continue to agitate and irritate.

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