The United club secretary explained that the people who control tribunals are the Professional Footballing Negotiations and Consultative Committee. The PFNCC is represented by four bodies: the PFA, whose representatives are Gordon Taylor and former United defender Brendan Batson; the Football League, whose representatives are David Dent and two of their directors, currently Ian Stott (Oldham Athletic) and Mr Bowler (Crewe Alexandra); the FA Premier League, represented by Mike Foster (secretary) and Peter Leaver (chief executive), and the FA who are represented by Graham Kelly.

Greenall said he has spoken to the registrations department of the Football League who have heard nothing about overturning the decision which scrapped conditional tribunals, and added that League clubs will have received a memo from David Dent today. The two page document states in bold type "I must also point out that clubs no longer have the option of referring cases on a conditional basis to the Football League Appeals Committee (FLAC)."

Greenall added, "Having spoken to the League and read their memo I would be very surprised if the decision was overturned, although I stand to be corrected. But a) it was the first the Football League had heard of it and b) Graham Kelly knows nothing of it."

'Billy' Beall

Taylor told the newspaper, "A lot of clubs are annoyed about what's happened and there is a meeting with the FA at the start of next month and hopefully the situation might change. The new ruling means that clubs can keep young players on low wages, slap a big fee on them and take a chance on going to a tribunal."

Conditional tribunals were scrapped this summer, but Orient only learned that after having a derisory offer for Beall rejected and then stating their intention to call a conditional tribunal, which would give them the opportunity to withdraw from the deal if the fee was set too high. As things stand, if the fee is decided by a tribunal it is binding and Orient are not prepared to risk that.

The former United manager added, "A lot of deals have fallen through because of the new ruling and we will wait and see what happens. If conditional tribunals come back we will make a move for Billy that way. If they don't we will make Cambridge a realistic bid for his services."

Once again, Taylor's choice of words seem to make it quite clear that his club's initial £5,000 offer was merely a device to ensure a low fee at a tribunal. In the meantime 20-year-old Beall is left in limbo with his present contract expiring next week, while both sets of fans wonder why, if Taylor and his chairman Barry Hearn value the player so highly, they are not prepared to make a more realistic offer.

Orient leave on their pre-season tour of Uganda next week and do not return until mid-way through July which could also have an impact on how quickly matters progress.

Roy McFarland

McFarland has returned from holiday to find no change in the situation and spoke out today: "It is very disappointing Leyton Orient decided to pursue a conditional tribunal after putting in an offer which I can only describe as miserly, considering the games he (Beall) has played in our first team and his age.

"Billy told me three weeks ago that his heart was set on joining Orient. I warned him about conditional tribunals and I didn't want Leyton Orient to hang him out to dry."

Beall's busy style made him popular on the terraces from the beginning of his United career but McFarland added, "My other concern was how he might have to face our supporters if the deal didn't go through. All of a sudden Leyton Orient pulled away. Clearly 'Billy' is committed to his side of things but I wonder if Orient are quite so committed? They don't seem to have the same conviction, and Billy is left in the middle."

Leeds are due to pay £100,000 per 20 games that Danny plays, up to a maximum of 80 games and £400,000. This makes the transfer potentially worth £2 million to Chelsea and of course Cambridge United are entitled to a percentage of the appearance-based fees. In another unforeseen bonus Chelsea have written a sell-on clause into the deal, so if Granville leaves Leeds United for a higher fee Chelsea are entitled to a percentage and United will be entitled to a share of that.

As Steve Greenall said, "We have a sell-on on the sell-on!" so the U's will continue to have an active financial interest in Granville's career.

Roy McFarland has returned from his holiday and is understood to be ready to attempt to bring the long-drawn out 'Billy' Beall saga to a head. Leyton Orient manager Tommy Taylor said he would make a fresh offer to United last week but so far no further bid has been received.

Steve Greenall

"The money we shall get out of Danny's move to Leeds not only plugs the gap in the 1998/9 finances," he said, "but also shows that our Youth policy is on the right track, producing players who can not only thrive at our level, but can go on to play in the Premier League."

The sell-on clause is in addition to a payment of £50,000 received by United once Danny had played his 20th game for Chelsea in March, plus a previous £25,000 bonus due to Chelsea's qualification for Europe last season, and brings the total income from his sale close to £600,000.

However chairman Reg Smart warned that the sell-on percentage, which will be in excess of £200,000, would not mean United could go charging into the transfer market. He joined Greenall in explaining that the money would just defer the need to sell other players when big clubs take an interest, until an investor or buyer for the club is found.

On this week's announcement that no games would be moved to Friday nights, Greenall revealed that feedback from the fans through the Supporters' Association, direct contact with the club and the results of a poll held here on U's Net had helped the club in their decision.

Danny Granville in United action

Another recent product of United's youth scheme, 23-year-old Granville left the Abbey in March 1997 to join Chelsea for an initial fee of £250,000. He went on to win England Under-21 honours within weeks and has been tipped as a future full international.

Danny's first team chances were limited under both Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli, and Vialli's recent swoop for Spanish international Albert Ferrer indicated that there would be even more competition for places. Granville's final appearance for Chelsea was in May when he replaced the injured Graham Le Saux to be part of the victorious European Cup Winners' Cup team.

He will continue his European experience in the UEFA Cup next season with Leeds and his £1.6 million switch generates a cash bonus for Cambridge United through the sell-on clause included as part of his transfer from the Abbey. United are due to receive 17.5% of the transfer fee, less appearance monies already paid, and club secretary Steve Greenall confirmed this afternoon that the payment would be "in excess of £200,000" if the £1.6 million fee is guaranteed and not linked to appearances.

Greenall added that on hearing initial reports of the transfer he contacted Nigel Pleasants, his predecessor and now secretary at Leeds United, only to learn that Granville was with the Leeds secretary signing his contract at that moment!

In a PA News report this evening Danny revealed that other clubs have been interested in him and explained the reason for his move: "I made the decision to move a few weeks ago. I think I'll better my career here. Leeds is a massive club and I just feel this is right. It was always going to be difficult at Chelsea because Graeme Le Saux is the current England full-back. I felt I learnt a lot off him and in the games I played for Chelsea, I did well.

"You do learn a lot at my age. There's a lot of class at Chelsea and I feel I've learnt a lot there but I just felt it was time to play more regularly. You can't get any more than winning a European cup, as Chelsea did. I know they've been successful and done really well but I just felt this was right. I just hope I've made the right decision."

Meanwhile United player-coach David Preece has told the Cambridge Evening News that three potential new signings will have talks with United next week. A striker, winger and midfielder have already had initial talks and indicated their interest in a move, and next week's talk will be aimed at arriving at a settlement.

However two away games have been moved back by a day to avoid having to play two games in three days. The affected fixtures are the match at Chester, moved back from August Bank Holiday (31st) to 7.45pm on Tuesday 1st September, and the game at Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday 5th April which will now take place on Tuesday April 6th at 7.45pm - probably at Brighton's new Withdean home.

The two rearranged dates are subject to confirmation from the Football League but both clubs have agreed the new dates and times.

The draw for the first round of the Coca-Cola Cup will not be made until next week and the League are understood to be considering a 'seeding' system.

Former Spurs midfielder Danny Hill, who was linked with several clubs including Cambridge United and Peterboring, has signed for Oxford United on a free transfer.

The season kicks off with the long trip to Torquay United on August 8th and highlights include the derbies with P*sh on Tuesday 10th November (away) and Saturday 24th April 1999 (home). There are the usual handful of fixtures to groan over, including a trek to Carlisle on Monday 28th December, but hopefully the weather and the result in Cumbria will be better than the driving snow and 3-0 defeat last time United made the journey!

Teletext reports that Cambridge United are awaiting a new offer for 'Billy' Beall from Leyton Orient. Their original £5,000 bid was rejected last month and now that conditional tribunals have been scrapped and Orient have said they will not risk a binding tribunal decision, they are expected to make another approach for Beall this week.

'Billy' Beall

Club secretary Steve Greenall is quoted saying, "We understand that Orient aren't willing to pay more than they can afford."

Meanwhile the Cambridge Evening News confirm that Orient's former United manager Tommy Taylor is not willing to allow a League tribunal set the fee for the 20-year-old.

Taylor told the CEN: "Now that they've scrapped conditional tribunals and you have to accept whatever price the hearing might arrive at, we can't go down that road. But we want Billy in our side next season, and he wants to play for us, so it would be best all round if we can come to a sensible agreement."

The O's learned earlier this week that they could not request a conditional tribunal to set a fee for the 20-year-old, and Taylor told the Hackney Gazette: "We will be going back to Cambridge next week with a new offer. What we feel is a sensible price for a Third Division player.

"But if Cambridge don't accept our bid we will have to pull out of the deal as we cannot afford to take a chance on a tribunal. If they happened to rule that Billy was worth £80,000 we would have to pay it and it's a figure we just can't afford."

Former United boss Taylor added, "It means clubs can keep young players on very low wages and just slap a huge price tag on them."

Another U's fan reports that last night's Kettering edition of the "Evening Telegraph" carried the news that Adie Hayes has signed for Town. The 20-year-old midfielder was released by United at the end of the season, and he could potentially face his former team-mates in the pre-season friendly when United visit on the 21st July.

'Billy' Beall

The London club now have two clear options: they must either prepare a contract, obtain Beall's signature, then confirm their valuation of the 20-year-old and lodge half of that sum with the League; or they can withdraw their offer and say they no longer wish to sign him. However Beall seems to have made it clear to Roy McFarland last week that he feels his future lies away from United.

Secretary Steve Greenall commented today, "The ball was in Leyton Orient's court yesterday morning and it's still in their court today."

According to a United fan based in Ipswich, the local "Evening Star" newspaper reports that Town veteran Simon Milton has been approached by Cambridge United and Northampton Town. The midfielder has spoken to John Taylor and is expected to have talks with Roy McFarland.

Since the end of the season United have also been linked with Tottenham's former England Under-21 international midfielder Danny Hill, wingback Steve Harper and striker Stewart Hadley of Mansfield, Reading's Ray Houghton and former Derby full-back Shane Nicholson, who was sacked by WBA for the use of amphetamines.

More details on the away shirt sponsorship draw came from the Cambridge Evening News yesterday. United's commercial manager Carla Frediani told them: "We have secured a sponsor for the home shirts, but a new away shirt is being launched this year. We thought that it would be novel to give everyone, from the local plumber to ICI, an equal chance to get their names on the shirt."

Speculation last week linked former U's defender Jody Craddock with a move to Merseyside giants Liverpool. Craddock left United for Sunderland almost a year ago but suffered a heart-breaking play-off final defeat last month at Wembley, when Charlton won a thrilling penalty shoot-out 7-6. The 22-year-old produced some eye-catching displays at the heart of Sunderland's young defence last season and has been tipped for international honours.

Nationwide clubs including Cambridge United yesterday backed the Football League's bid to prevent a possible breakaway league being formed. At the Annual General Meeting, 69 of the Nationwide League's 72 sides supported chairman David Sheepshanks and chief executive Richard Scudamore's plans for a re-organisation of the League's structure.

It was followed by a short extraordinary general meeting, where changes regarding the distribution of income and a new board management structure were ratified. Clubs now have greater autonomy, with those in Division One taking the lead role over negotiating commercial television rights. Three representatives from the First Division, two from Division Two and one from the Third Division will sit on the new board under the leadership of Scudamore and an independent chairman yet to be appointed.

The offer Mr Hearn refers to is in fact his only offer, made on the 20th May, and which consists of a rather laughable £5,000 plus another £5,000 after the player has completed 25 appearances, and a 10% sell-on.

Hearn added, "Clearly we are not going to get any closer to resolving this dispute," and suggested referring the matter to a conditional tribunal, despite the fact that he has made no attempt to reach agreement over a fee.

United club secretary and financial controller Steve Greenall commented today: "I am disappointed there is no negotiation at all. Negotiation is a two way process."

Interestingly, on Leyton Orient Clubcall the O's former United manager Tommy Taylor said he had been "speaking to players since Christmas", which would seem to indicate that he has been talking to other clubs' contracted players. Taylor went on to reveal that United were seeking a fee of "altogether £150,000" for Beall.

Steve Greenall said, "We have tried to avoid putting bounties on our player's head, but for the record our fee guarantees £75,000 which we think is very reasonable. The rest is linked to appearances and promotion."

As battle lines are drawn ahead of the inevitable tribunal Taylor added, "It's always the same with Cambridge, putting prices high. No-one would pay that kind of money for a player."

Greenall retorted, "And neither would anyone accept £5,000 for a player of Billy's experience and potential."

The 20-year-old midfielder has already recorded 81 appearances and six goals in his league career with United.

Roy McFarland

"With Billy showing his allegiance to Leyton Orient, we are entering into negotiations with them," he said today. "We told them at the time of their first approach that we would not put a fee on Billy's head as we wanted him to stay with Cambridge United. Orient, on the strength of our rejecting the bid they made, have already stated that they would be going to conditional tribunal. Presumably they are sticking to the fee they have offered.

"My fear is how our supporters would react to Billy, if a tribunal does take place on a conditional basis, and Orient turn down the fee set. Or is all of this a smoke screen to kid the tribunal that if the fee is too high, they will pull out?"

McFarland warned, "It is premature to talk of tribunals as we have not, before Friday this week, tabled our valuation of Billy Beall. Tribunals are usually called when meaningful negotiation has broken down and and independent arbitration is needed. Steve Greenall and I have explained all of this to Billy.

"We tried to keep him, but he told us his mind was made up and he felt he needed a change after six years at the club."

'Billy' Beall

Secretary Steve Greenall commented, "We are now reluctantly resigned to losing him and will be contacting Leyton Orient with our valuation later this week."

The Londoners offered a mere £5,000 for the 20-year-old last month so the fee is more than likely to go to a transfer tribunal.

Beall served his two year YTS with United and has completed two years as a professional, making 81 appearances and scoring six times in his league career.