Trevor Benjamin will not be sold to West Bromwich Albion or any other club in the immediate future. Already this week director Gary Harwood has used this site to reassure fans that Benjamin would not be following strike partner Martin Butler out of the club, and now chairman Reg Smart has used the Cambridge Evening News to make the same assurance.

"I told them Trevor is not for sale," he said, referring to this week's enquiry from WBA, "and that goes for anybody else who might be interested in him.

"The directors of this club never want to sell any of our best players, but because of the finances we are forced to from time to time. We couldn't hold on to Martin Butler any longer due to the mounting debts. We don't want Cambridge United to be in the position of Swindon Town, who have just gone into receivership, but that sale gives us some leeway which allows us to keep Trevor with us."

Roy McFarland added, "Trevor is very important for this club, and I believe even if there was a huge 'silly money' offer this season he would not be sold. He is a player with great potential, who I think one day could move on for more than United's record player, Dion Dublin.

"The chairman gets some stick at times from supporters, and some have suggested we should have got more money for Martin Butler, but they should know Reg Smart's heart and soul is with Cambridge United. He is just like any other fan when it comes to parting with our best players, apart from the fact that he gets to know the players well, so it's an even bigger wrench for him.

"Since I've been here, he and his directors have always considered my advice, and we held on to get a lot more money than we might have for Danny Granville and Jody Craddock. But the Martin Butler deal was an excellent one for this club."

McFarland and David Preece were scouting for new players on Wednesday night, and in response to a direct question the manager hinted in yesterday's On The Spot interview that Hitchin Town's Zema Abbey is a target. The young striker is thought to have had recent trials with United.

McFarland told the CEN that a defender and a striker are on his shopping list, although he believes that Trevor Benjamin can grasp this opportunity to emerge into the spotlight on a regular basis.

"Trevor has done very well lately," he commented. "I've seen an all-round improvement in him. He is making good progress. He is still young and inexperienced, but I believe he has it in him to take on the role as the top striker which Martin has left behind. In fact, he was probably more impressive than Martin in the matches against Chesterfield and Bolton.

"We brought Steve Guinan in from Nottingham Forest, to some extent with Martin's situation in mind, and now for the first time in his career he has the incentive of having a run in first-team football. He's had a good footballing background at Forest, and has scored goals wherever he has gone out on loan. I'd like to ask the supporters to be a bit patient, though, because he has come into a new set-up."

The manager added that Tom Youngs and Michael Kyd could also make a contribution to the battle for Division Two survival, but the return to full fitness of Alex Russell (pictured right) gives him most cause for optimism:

"It was Alex, with Trevor, who gave Bolton most problems," he said. "Alex was a key figure in last season's promotion, and I don't mind admitting we missed him badly when he was out injured this season.

"I'm surprised there haven't been more inquiries about him because he is certainly one of the best midfielders in this division. Having him back is a huge boost."

Meanwhile skipper Paul Wanless revealed that the players knew Martin Butler would be leaving before the league game against Chesterfield, and believes that the U's can cope with his departure, "because no one man makes a team."

He added, "We wish him all the best of luck, and he deserves it because he's done very well for the club. I played in most of the games while he was here, and for me his commitment and work rate were more impressive than the goals he scored. He gave everything when he was on the pitch.

"We've been playing well lately, and players like Steve Guinan, Tom Youngs and Michael Kyd will see Martin leaving as a big chance for them. We have a great young striker in Trevor Benjamin, and with the backing of the fans one of the other lads can form another effective partnership with him."