By Nathan Jackson
February 17 2005

The Imps face Cambridge United on Saturday who are almost certainly not going to be in the football league next season. Cambridge have only won 3 games all season and are in danger of going out of business all together unless a minor miracle occurs.

After an impressive away victory at Boston on Wednesday night, the Imps are set to take on Cambridge United at home. The men from the Abbey Stadium have only won 3 games all season and that chances of them still being in the football league look to be extremely low. The club, without help from other teams won't be able to pay employees at any levels once February is over. A win could see City move up to 4th in the table but the Imps are guaranteed to stay in the playoffs with the two teams below them playing each other.

The usual suspects are still out but McAuley is due back after a minor injury kept him out of the Boston game. Loanees Guy Ipoua and Karl Bermingham should start on the bench. One minor decision that Keith might face is the formation, if McAuley doesn't recover intime then City will go 4-3-3 with Hanlon going into midfield with Gain and Butcher but if the Northern Irish defender is fit, it is likely the formation will be Keith's prefered 5-2-3

Most likely formation (Right to left)

Marriott

Bloomer        McAuley     McCombe      Morgan         Sandwith

Butcher            Gain

GTF          Yeo        Green

 

In a bit to help the club survive (afterall, no-one wants to see a club go bust), we are doing our bit at theimps.tk. The follow is taken from www.cambridgefansunited.org

Cambridge Fans United today launched an appeal to save Cambridge United following the supporters’ open meeting on Monday night.

David Matthew Jones, Chairman of CFU, said: ‘The situation facing the Club on the pitch is very serious. Off the pitch it is critical. The immediate challenge is to ensure that Cambridge United still exists as a football club on March 1. That is why we are launching our appeal today. We are guided by one principle and one principle alone – to protect the long term future of Cambridge United Football Club.’

The Board of Directors announced at the Club’s Annual General Meeting 10 days ago that the Club needs to raise £300,000 by the end of this month to ensure its continued survival at the end of this month and another £300,000 by the end of the season. Dr Hon, a Director of the club, has announced he is looking at the possibility of providing funds until the end of the season. CFU believes that alternative funding has to be in place should Dr Hon’s bid not go forward so the Club does not find itself in the position where there is no other option but to fold at the end of this month.

Mr Matthews Jones added, ‘The fans are grateful for Dr Hon’s interest in providing possible financial support to the Club. We also know that Dr Hon’s team are still in the process of reviewing legal and financial information from the club, and it may well be that this review turns up details which prevent Dr Hon from proceeding with his offer.

‘Concern was also raised at the meeting about one individual or company, however well-intentioned, having overall control of the club – something which has never happened in the history of Cambridge United.

‘For both these reasons the supporters at Monday night’s meeting felt very strongly that CFU should take any steps possible to develop an alternative, back-up plan to transform the club into a community club.

‘CFU fund-raising will start with bucket collections at this Saturday’s home game against Macclesfield, and we would urge every past and present fan to find a way to get to the Abbey Stadium on Saturday, to support the team and support CFU in our respective campaigns.

‘In the meantime we will continue to talk to all parties over the next fortnight to try and find the best way forward. Any decisions we take will be guided by what we believe will be in the best long term interest of Cambridge United FC.’

Anyone able to help the Trust in its bid to save United, with a donation, sponsorship or by helping out, is asked to contact CFU urgently on: 07957 344005.

To on field matters, Cambridge are near enough doomed as a football league side, they've only won 3 times this season and only a minor miracle in their final 14 games will see them survive. Those 3 victories all came under old manager Herve Renard who has since been replaced by ex Imp manager, Steve Thompson, came at home to Shrewsbury Town (1-0), Bristol Rovers (1-0) and a 3-1 win over local rivals Rushden and Diamonds. They have failed to win away losing at Wycombe, Boston, Cheltenham, Rochdale, Notts County, Oxford, Grimsby and Yeovil. Although only 7 points from safety, it is highly unlikely they will survive and some Cambridge fans are already starting to plan their routes to Woking, Morecambe and Tamworth next season.

Key Players : John Ruddy (GK) and John Turner (ST)

The league meeting in October saw the Imps win 1-0 thanks to a Francis Green. It was a poor game but it was the first won game between the sides since Cambridge were relegated to this division, ironically that season they were relegated, they didn't win away, sound familiar?