U's Manager gives his reaction to a new three year deal at the club.
Fresh from signing a three year contract extension at the Abbey Stadium, Cambridge United Manager Richard Money states the U’s are a different animal as preparations begin for the 2015/16 Football League season.
The U’s indicated their faith in the 59-year old’s ability to continue guiding the club forward, having led the side to FA Trophy success, promotion to the Football League and a memorable FA Cup run since arriving at the club in 2012.
Money takes charge of a revamped football department at the club and says he’s delighted to be able to play a key role in the progression of Cambridge United on and off the field.
“The club that we have created is one that everybody would love the opportunity to manage and I’ve been a major part of the group of people that has achieved that so why would I want to be anywhere else,” he said.
“I think it is important that people understand that my role really doesn’t change too much because I am the team manager and I select the players. I always have done and will continue to do so.
“Neither myself nor Jez George really understood the impact on the football department that him becoming Chief Executive would have back in October.”
He continued: “We have had a lot of discussions over the last three weeks about the club that we were, the club we have become and the club that we want to develop.
“The club that we are this summer is a vastly different animal to the club we were last summer. We want to create a beast going forward because we think we are more than capable of that.
“This is a club that wants to go places and is one that can. There won’t be many teams in the football pyramid that will be better placed than us right now, to progress in the way that everybody would want to.”
Money’s new role will see him take on a number of additional duties including the full management of the recruitment process, with the club moving to accommodate the manager’s increased responsibilities through the appointment of former Colchester United Manager Joe Dunne alongside a reshuffle of the U’s most valuable coaching staff.
The Cambridge boss explains in further detail the reasons behind the restructure and tells Cambridge-United.co.uk he’s set his sights on a building a side that has a genuine chance of challenging for a top seven finish next season.
“It is difficult for me to describe how you sign a player but the time frame between first talking to the player and getting the signature on the contract is enormous. The amount of work that needs to be done in the first place is equally large.
“We are embarking on a whole restructure of our recruitment process as well as what is happening in our football department with Jez’s move from Director of Football and the two things together need to be overseen under my role.
“We have batted against the odds and punched above our weight to reach where we are and will continue to do that because we are not going to suddenly throw money at it. A good business means we have a good budget that enables us to compete properly.
“It’s an old cliché that if you want to remain young then surround yourself with young people. Matt Walker, Mark Bonner and Joe Dunne all come in with a great skill set and people who know me will know that I’ll listen and buy into the majority of what is being said.”
He added: “My role may mean that I spend a little less time on the training field so I felt it was especially important that we brought somebody into the organisation who has that experience of being a manager.
“I think if you delegate then you need somebody who is place that you feel is comfortable can do the job and that’s why we decided to appoint somebody with Joe’s qualities.
“We recruited players two years ago to get us promoted and last summer we tried to put a squad together that we genuinely felt would keep us in this league and could probably dream of going higher.
“The task this summer is to put a group together that can realistically go higher and that’s what we are going to try and do.”
To renew your 2015/2016 season ticket, simply pop into the U's Ticket Office, call 01223 566 500 (option 1) or click here to purchase online through your box office account.
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To purchase a new 2015/2016 season ticket, simply pop into the U's Ticket Office or call 01223 566 500 (option 1) or click here to purchase online.