Friday 28th April 2000 : Roy seeking sponsor for Perez?

Real life apparently echoed - or followed - speculation on the U's Net message board and Moosenet mailing list this week, when Roy McFarland commented in yesterday's Cambridge Evening News that he would be delighted if a backer or "group" wanted to sponsor the substantial wages of Lionel Perez.

It is not clear from the article whether the manager suggested the scheme or was replying after being asked whether he approved of the idea, but he said, "Lionel wants first-team football, I don't think he would be too bothered about stepping down from Premiership level. I know it's a bit pie-in-the-sky, but it would be lovely if there was a wealthy backer or maybe a group who could sponsor him to stay with us.

"As a club, we couldn't get anywhere near the kind of money he is on at Newcastle, but he's been a great influence in the short time he's been with us. He's played a huge part in us winning the relegation battle, and it would be very good for Shaun Marshall to be working and competing with a player of his ability and experience."

The French goalkeeper has made a stunning impression since arriving on loan from Newcastle United on deadline day last month and his excellent performances have made him an instant crowd favourite. However his Premiership wages - reported by the Newcastle Evening Chronicle to be £5,000 and by the CEN to be nearer £9,000 - mean he is so far out of the reach of Cambridge United that unless he is prepared to take an enormous cut in pay, the Abbey pay structure would be smashed wide open.

Some fans have suggested both on Moosenet and the message board that a fund should be established for supporters to make regular donations towards Perez's wages, assuming he can be persuaded to sign for Cambridge United. However the counter argument is that paying one player so much more than the others would surely be damaging to team morale, especially when McFarland warned this month that United's wage structure would need to be reviewed if he is to compete with the wages paid by other Division Two clubs.

Likewise it has been argued that as United's operating deficit exceeds £5,000 a week, any fund set up by supporters would be better used to meet or reduce those losses and help to put the club on a sounder footing. The debate looks set to continue ...

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