He is quoted saying, "It was pretty much decided some time ago, it was only small details which delayed things.

"I'm happy to stay. I believe we are on the right lines with the club. The first job was to get out of the third division, and we've done that. We've also managed to play some attractive football, and that's helped boost the attendances. Now the aim is to continue to make progress, while always remembering that the bottom line is the survival of the football club.

"There are some exciting developments ahead with the stadium, and we need that to provide other sources of income, because we are still in the situation where we have no choice but to sell our best players from time to time."

McFarland's contract now runs until the end of the 2001-2002 season, and chairman Reg Smart commented, "Roy signing gives us stability and means we can make plans for the future. He and his team have done an excellent job, and the next step now is to get David Preece to extend his contract with the club."

McFarland's mystery target had talks at the Abbey yesterday, although according to the News McFarland is still not prepared to name the player. However, and somewhat uncharacteristically, several other details have been leaked so that we are told he is apparently a 22-year-old from Liverpool, a left-sided player who has played in central defence and at left back, and his career has been interrupted by injury.

The Christmas fixtures include a Sunday trip to Oxford on Boxing Day for the game the media will refer to as a 'Varsity' clash, with Cardiff visiting the Abbey two days later. At Easter we travel to Colchester on Saturday April 23rd and entertain Preston North End on Monday the 25th. The season closes with a home game on May 6th, when Wycombe Wanderers are the visitors.

The full list is available in the "This Season" section or direct from this link.

Worthington Cup draw first round (Ties to be played over two legs, the first-leg to be played the week commencing August 9, the second August 23):

McFarland told today's Cambridge Evening News: "The lad has been on the fringes of a place in a Premiership team, but they are willing to release him because a knee injury delayed his progress. I'd be willing to take a chance on his fitness, providing he came through the usual tests. I don't want to name him, or the club yet, because there is already quite a lot of interest in him from northern clubs as well as one higher division club in this area.

"We feel we have a chance of persuading him to join us, but there is a lot of competition. He's a left-sided player who could replace Jamie Campbell, and he's also played at centre-back."

He is also still hunting classy Stoke midfielder Neil Mackenzie, and despite one rejected bid he believes United are favourites to sign the player.

"We are keeping going with it," he said. "The fact that Stoke turned down our first bid hasn't discouraged us."

Season ticket sales are well up on last year, as the club starts to reap the financial benefits of promotion. More than 1,550 have been sold so far, nearly 300 more than at this stage last year, but tickets remain available at all prices. See this page for full details.

Veteran striker John Taylor got married on Saturday in Hitchin. The "King of the Abbey", who became the club's record goal-scorer last season, admitted to "a few butterflies" as he married Treena. As reported on Anglia News, things didn't go quite to plan as the bridesmaid and pageboy kept running off, the bride's car broke down on the way to the church, her zip on her dress broke and when she did finally get to the church she had left her bouquet at home! However the wedding finally went ahead twenty minutes late.

I am sure all United fans join me in sending best wishes to John and Treena.

In today's Cambridge Evening News the player-coach said, "By this stage the bids are in and you are waiting for the players' decisions. We'd like to get a couple in early so that they can become part of the squad from the moment we get back, but I shouldn't think we'll get all the people we want until well into July. We are looking to strengthen every outfield position in the team.

"We need to find a replacement at left-back for Jamie Campbell, who went to Brighton, and a winger is high in our priorities."

One of the offers is probably for midfielder Neil Mackenzie whose impressive loan spell towards the end of last season was cut short by an ankle injury. The player himself has said that he is keen to return and United reportedly had a bid declined, but since then Stoke City have parted company with manager Brian Little and no players will be sold until a new man is appointed.

Preece also commented on the club's second Fair Play award in consecutive seasons. As reported here on Wednesday, the U's won the FA 'Fair Play' award for Division Three, a year after collecting the PFA's Bobby Moore Fair Play award.

The divisional winners of the F.A. Fair Play Awards are those clubs who have finished at the top of a series of merit tables, with £10,000 - to be spent on a community based initiative - going to each of the three successful Nationwide Football league sides.

Points are awarded on a debit and credit basis with the F.A. Fair Play awards - which will be in operation once again next season - going to the club in each division of The Football League who finishes the season with the highest credit balance.

The merit order is determined by the balance accruing to each club, with teams being credited with two points for a goal scored at home and four points for a goal away from home. However, points are deducted for players cautioned (one point) or sent off (two points). The Division Three table at the end of the 1998/99 season is shown below:

Using goals scored in the Nationwide League had caused some controversy and at their AGM at the Carden Park Hotel, near Chester, on Saturday the League decided to revert to goal difference.

The change comes too late to help Bury, who were relegated to the Second Division on goals scored. They finished level on points with Port Vale and if goal difference had applied the Potteries club would have gone down instead.

League spokesman Peter Rowe explained that members felt goals scored had not produced the attacking football hoped for when it was introduced:

"The League has voted to replace goals scored with goal difference, which brings us back in line with the Premier League and UEFA," he said.

"When goals scored was brought in it was seen as a way of encouraging attacking football. But the statistics show it has not really made any difference at all. Of all the relegation and promotion issues last season, Bury's relegation from the First Division is the only one which would have been different."

About the shirts issue, Rowe added: "As from next season all the clubs will be using squad names and numbers a la Premier League and that was universally approved by all the clubs. A lot of people watch the Premier League and then when they watch the Football League they notice differences like that.

It's an opportunity for the League to develop a higher degree of brand awareness. It also gives clubs the marketing opportunity to develop local heroes, like Lee Hughes at West Brom."

In a third move, the League has fallen into the line with the Premiership, Football Association and UEFA over substitutes and from next season teams will be able to use three of five players on the bench.

© PA Sporting Life

Items on the agenda include the election of a Chairman and Secretary and whether to continue with the CEN player ratings. Gordon Theobald will not stand for re-election as CUSA Chairman. Also under discussion will be CUSA membership and its objectives, activities and achievements, the Secretary's financial report 1998/99 and an update on the Abbey re-development update.

Please address any queries to thecusa@btinternet.com

Reactions from local MPs to United's application for planning permission have been supportive. In yesterday's Cambridge Evening News, Anne Campbell said, "This is the way they want to play it. I'm happy to accept that decision and support them in their endeavours."

Andrew Landsley MP commented, "I'm very supportive of what Cambridge United are doing. What is clear is that the development has to take place on that site and not somewhere else. I hope that at the earliest opportunity Cambridge United can be put in the position to succeed in the second division and aspire to the first division."

A spokesman for the Whitehill Allotment Society, who operate on the land behind United's South Terrace, said, "We're not happy about it, but what has to be will be."

John Durrant, Labour Councillor for the Abbey Ward, said that there are some planning issues to be addressed, such as possible traffic problems and the allotments, but added, "I would also welcome any new community facilities. This is one of the most disadvantaged areas ion the region and I hope the facilities will be affordable for the local community."

An artist's impression of the new-look stadium appeared in yesterday's CEN and I hope to receive copies soon from the club.

United's reserve team will take part in a restructured Football Combination League next season. The League, which will continue to be sponsored by Avon Insurance, will consist of 22 teams, with Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Southend United and Leyton Orient joining the eighteen sides which played in the Combination last year.

Cambridge United FC has submitted plans to the City Council to substantially upgrade the ground, community facilities and spectator accommodation at the Abbey Stadium.

After many months of discussions and negotiations with City Council and other interested bodies, the proposal seeks to take the newly promoted club into the 21st Century with modern facilities to meet the requirements of the Taylor report as well as community and spectator needs. An important part of the plans is the club's intention to provide, within the redeveloped Stadium, facilities for community use throughout the year.

In order to achieve its overall objectives, the club proposes to move the pitch slightly to the south to accommodate a new North Stand for home supporters. This will also significantly improve the Newmarket Road frontage by removing the temporary buildings. The new North Stand will incorporate an improved Supporters Club facility on the ground Floor, as well as a new Club Shop. In addition to accommodation for the club's administration, this stand will incorporate teaching accommodation, a health and fitness suite, a sports injury clinic and provision for small scale recreational pursuits.

Furthermore a new Visiting Supporters Stand will be created at the Southern end of the ground.

CUFC Chairman Reg Smart commented, "Coming at a time after our success on the pitch last season is now reflected in increased Season Ticket sales, I believe this redevelopment is a great step forward for the club, our fans and the Cambridge community as a whole.

"As we approach the 21st Century we are pleased to develop a landmark stadium be-fitting a higher grade of Football and the City of Cambridge."

The visit of Division One play-off finalists Bolton, on Saturday the 24th, gives U's boss Roy McFarland the opportunity to renew his acquaintance with Bolton manager Colin Todd as the pair were previously in joint charge of the Lancashire side. The match, which kicks off at 3pm, will be a stern test for United against a Division One side who are expected to be chasing a Premiership place at the end of the season.

The second home game, on Saturday 31st July, brings another play-off finalist to the Abbey in the shape of Leyton Orient. Fixtures with the Division Three losing finalists have always been keenly fought contests and the presence of former U's boss Tommy Taylor, together with a number of ex-United players who left under varying circumstances, has added even more spice over the last couple of seasons. The match, which again kicks off at 3pm, is certain to be another testing workout for McFarland's side.

There are several confirmed away games planned and United have released the details to U's Net today:

• 16th July - Cambridge City (A) (first team) kick-off tba
• 20th July - Braintree (A) (first team) 7.30pm
• 21st July - Soham (A) (reserves) 7.45pm
• 27th July - Nuneaton (A) (first team) 7.45pm
• 28th July - Wisbech (A) (reserves) 7.45pm
• 3rd August - Wroxham (A) (reserves) 7.45pm

The scheme, which offers savings of up to 35%, ends at mid-day on Saturday June 5th. The ticket office is open for personal Season Ticket applications from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and on Saturday from 9am to 12 noon to give supporters a final opportunity to secure their tickets at the discount prices.

Club secretary Andy Pincher is delighted by the response and said, "Sales are well up on this time last year and whilst many are renewals by our regulars, there is a definite increase in new fans becoming season ticket holders for the first time. Saturday mid-day is the last chance for fans to take advantage of the special rates."

[1999/2000 Season ticket and matchday admission prices]

Work is underway on the reconfiguration of the Main Stand gangways. It is required safety work similar to the barrier reconfiguration that took place on the terraces a few months ago, and will see all gangways straightened up so that they run straight down the stand without turning corners.

Work is also required on the dugouts as a new ruling means that the home and away dugouts must not be separated by more than eight metres and must offer no advantage to either bench. This means the Abbey's remote away dugout will be moved back towards the home one, and both will have to be extended as from next season they must be large enough to accommodate eleven people. The Nationwide League will come into line with the Premiership next season by allowing five substitutes to be named.

Another change next season could be squad numbers. The change has already been approved by the commercial managers and should be ratified in the near future at a meeting of League chairmen. This will see all Nationwide players wearing named shirts and give fans the option to have their favourite player's name and number on their replica shirt.

Several of the first team squad trained at the Abbey on Tuesday, underlining the good spirit in the squad and their desire to be fit and ready for the new season. Player-coach John Taylor suggested an optional training session and - as you might expect - skipper Paul Wanless was one of those who took part.

Despite several conflicting rumours regarding pre-season games, assistant secretary Mark Johnson has underlined that NO fixtures have been confirmed yet. The club are trying hard to finalise their plans and they hope to have some attractive home fixtures at the end of July as well as the usual trips to non-league clubs.

Next season's League fixtures are expected in about a fortnight and U's Net should be the first place to see United's full fixture list for 1999/2000.

At the planning meeting for the matchday programme last night, several changes were agreed. Johnson, who edits the programme, says he is looking forward to the challenge of competing with the publications by clubs with far bigger budgets than United and a host of new features are promised.

There is still no news on last season's 'fair play' award although staff at the Abbey think United are well in the running.

United beat off strong competition from Ipswich and Peterborough to capture the signature of the gifted 14-year-old central midfielder, who lives just a stone's throw from the Abbey Stadium.

Youth Development Officer Ricky Martin explained, "Leigh's performances have attracted the interest of neighbouring clubs but our close interest, and the opportunity that we can offer Leigh to develop, has been instrumental in making the difference."