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Cambridge are to work to a 2,100 break-even budget next season - half the figure they were working on just six seasons ago.
The U's budgeted for 4,200 gates in the 2006/7 season but averaged just over 2,500, while in the 2010/11 season the budget was for 3,200. This season they are believed to be working on a 2,400 average, which is currently around 150 over their actual gates.
Director Dave Doggett told the local press, in the light of comments made by manager Richard Money last week, that the board had to cover February's wage bill at the club with just one home game in the month:
"Every director at a football club knows it comes with the territory and seeing as we had a shortfall in February, the directors put in short-term loans. In March, we’ve got four home matches so all of a sudden you go from only having one match and not enough money to having enough and being able to repay the directors’ loans and you move on.
"I explained to the shareholders at the AGM the financial challenges at every football club, and most of them at a lower level haven’t got that cushion to cover variations in cashflow. That’s one of the reasons why Jez (George, director of football) is doing this 100-mile walk so short-term issues such as postponements don’t have such an effect on cashflow.
"It’s why we’ve also said for next year’s budget, we’re working on breaking even on 2,100 gates while working hard to bring in more non-matchday income and at the same time have a football budget that’s ambitious and competitive so we can be challenging for the play-offs next season.
"The club is a bit like an oil tanker that’s been going along in a steady direction for so long and I’m just trying to stop it before I turn it around.
"It’s not something you can do overnight, so it’s taking time and I’m pleased with the progress, but there’s a long way to go and we need everybody to come along on the journey with us."
