Abbey-ly ever after?

New shirt sponsors eh? Exciting times, and although I was hoping for a return of the C&R Windows splodge, I suppose Greene King will do for now.

In other news this week, Paul Barry seems to have been enjoying the (quite good) new Channel Five show Flash Forward to the extent that it has caused him to have a preminition of his own. Fortunately it doesn't involve any of his colleagues dying, or his wife having an affair, but does feature United staying at the Abbey for at least ten years.

Our leader said: "Cambridge United is and has been at the heart of the community in Cambridge and I believe we now must focus on our current location. Of all the various football stadia I have visited around the world, my favourite ones are those right in cities.

"Fans are at the heart of the atmosphere created at stadia, and with our passionate fans, staying at and improving the Abbey would be my personal wish."

In an ideal world, I too would like to see us stay at the Abbey for ever and ever, but there's no mention in there of how we might get round the little matter of ~£2.5million which we'll have to pay the ginger one in rent over the coming decade.

Having covered our losses personally in recent years, Mr Barry should know better than most that the current situation isn't sustainable, and having done a bit of research I couldn't find one example of a club that pays a substantial rent and achieves on pitch success/stability at the same time. Oxford are obviously doing alright so far this season despite their rent, but it remains to be seen what will happen if they don't get promoted this year.

So we can only hope there is more to this statement than meets the eye. Otherwise it is difficult to see us moving forward as a club with the stadium millstone hanging round our neck.