Latest news on the great Abbey Stadium buyback

Cambridge Fans United's ambitious attempt to buy back the Abbey Stadium is gathering pace, with £3.5million needed in just 13 days.

You've probably all seen the email which was sent out earlier today, but I didn't think it would do any harm to post it here in the hope that it might attract a couple of extra investors. Without wishing to sound like Bob Geldof, if you can spare the cash, please do your bit to help bring the Abbey home;

Greetings
This might sound a little like one of those spam emails from Nigeria but please read to the end before you dismiss the idea! Thank you.

Quick history lesson (for those who may not know): In 2004 Cambridge Utd were in financial trouble & sold their ground (the Abbey Stadium) to then director John Howard's company "Bideawhile". Bideawhile entered into an agreement with CUFC to lease the ground back to the club and also made an agreement that the club could buy back the Abbey at an agreed price if ever they could raise enough finance. At the present moment CUFC pay annual rent of £240,000 and this figure is subject to periodical increases.

CUFC has never managed to raise the repurchase sum and it has now been announced that Bideawhile has agreed to sell the ground to a property developer, Grosvenor Developments. Before that deal can be completed there is a notice period in which CUFC has the legal right to exercise their option to repurchase (if they can raise the funds).

Frankly, raising the required sum (£3.5M + costs) through donations in the limited timeframe is a long-shot at best. However, there may be another way which would suit the club, fans and investors alike.

The proposal is to set up a community interest company ("CIC"). The CIC would be formed by the sale of its 3,700 shares. Each share would cost £1,000 to buy. The sale of these shares would raise the sum required to buy back the ground from Bideawhile (including stamp duty and other set-up costs).

The CIC would lease the ground to Cambridge United FC at a much reduced rent. Potentially saving the club a six-figure sum each and every season. Annual profits of the CIC would be distributed amongst its shareholders. Even with a reduced rent there is an opportunity to provide an attractive return to investors, especially as many deposit accounts at banks/building societies are paying 1% or less to their savers.

Furthermore, there is the potential of capital growth - if the club were to ever relocate, default on its payments (or be liquidated) then the shareholders would still own a prime piece of Cambridge real estate. It has long been discussed that the area has enormous development potential.

Obviously setting up such a company requires legal advice and CFU have spoken with solicitors who will ensure that the CIC is set up correctly.

This is a large sum to raise. But look at it another way - 3,700 people each with £1,000 to invest, or just 740 people with £5,000 to invest and the figure seems achievable. CFU has begun circulating this information to supporters and already the response and pledges for investment is quite staggering.

CFU are taking this story to the media - locally with the likes of the Cambridge Evening News, BBC Radio Cambridgehire and Look East, and also nationally with the likes of Radio 5 Live, Football Focus, Breakfast TV and Sky Sports (remember Soccer AM's Max Rushden is a Cambridge United fan). The recent sad decline of Chester and Portsmouth has put football finance firmly in the media spotlight at the moment and this is a chance to show that fans of a relatively minor club can make a huge (positive) impact.

This is a genuine chance to make a change for good. Remember you are not being asked to "give" anything - you are being asked to invest in something you care about and thereby make a difference. The idea is for you to receive a good return on your investment, the potential of capital growth and secure the ownership of Cambridge United's ground for the benefit of the club and its supporters.

Please note that all of the above represents my understanding of the current position from discussions with the relevant parties. I don't pretend to be an expert, just a keen fan of CUFC! Discussions are ongoing between CFU and CUFC so the final details of any scheme that may go ahead could differ from those set out above. Time is running very short so if something is going to happen, it needs to happen fast!

If the scheme gets off the ground then I am happy to put my money where my mouth is on this one; hopefully you will do the same.

To register your interest in the scheme please send your contact details to cfuinbox@btinternet.com Please DO NOT send any money now - at the present time we simply require details of anyone who may be interested in the scheme.