Let's Push For A Move

histon · #1 (**permalink**) 13th May 2007, 07:05 PM

LET'S PUSH FOR A MOVE

ADRIAN Hanauer, the latest addition to the Cambridge United board, says the club will need to push ahead with plans for a new ground. The Seattle-based millionaire, who was named as a director this week, says relocation is a key issue. But he admitted it would not happen overnight.

Hanauer, who co-owns the Seattle Sounders football team, yesterday vowed to plough £200,000 into United over the next two seasons. And he has vowed to work closely with his friend, and major U's shareholder, businessman Paul Barry, who is also based in the American city. Hanauer admitted discussions have taken place about the club's ground situation and said: "I have had a couple of conversations with Paul about the ground. "We clearly don't have a good facility from an economic standpoint and we need to fix that.

"Ultimately we need to build a new stadium, but this is not going to happen overnight." United's biggest liability is the rent on the Abbey Stadium, owned by property developer Stephen Clark and former United director John Howard.

The club have had discussions with the duo and clearly a move away from the Abbey is on the cards. However, Hanauer said he could not wait to get behind United manager Jimmy Quinn and help him build his squad. He said: "I am looking forward to an exciting season ahead and we're going to try to do the things in the off-season to get the club promoted. "If you look at the second half of the season we showed promotion form. We just need to make sure we have two halves of the season like that. And we will add the players we need to go up."

Quinn said: "It is pleasing to hear Adrian talking about promotion, but we're not going to go shouting about anything because football has a funny way of biting you in the backside. "We just want to go about our business, but it is good to know we've got people like Adrian and Paul behind us. "If we need something midway through the season, the cash could be there to bring in a few new faces and give everyone a boost, which can make a massive difference."