Interim footballing director Graham Daniels gives an update on the latest proceedings at The Abbey Stadium and the future of head coach Shaun Derry...
"First off a Happy New Year to all of you from everyone at the Club. Your support over the festive period has been massively appreciated - as it always is. At a time the team really needed it you have really got behind them. And it made a real difference as a number of people have commented in recent days. It played a big part in helping us have a successful festive period on the pitch over the last 10 days.
As I said before Christmas we recognised just how important this run of games was for the Club. It is never easy - physically and mentally - when the games come so thick and fast. To go unbeaten and take 8 points from the 4 games is testament to the hard work of the Head Coach, the football staff and the whole squad.
We have shown this season we can be hard to beat - and we also know we have some real quality going forward. So it was particularly pleasing to see more of that side of our game over Christmas. We played on the front foot for large parts and there were some outstanding performances right across the park from front to back. It was great to finish the year at the Abbey with one of the best team performances of 2017. Another 2 or 3 goals against Crewe genuinely would not have flattered us.
I said just before Christmas that stability was vital at that point for the Club - and we have all seen the way the team have responded positively on the pitch. At the Board meeting yesterday we all agreed that this stability is just as important as we enter the second half of the season. We all have the highest ambitions for the Club and there is still everything to play for. This is a very tight division and we all know week in week out just how competitive it can be. There are no easy games - top or bottom - but we all believe we have a team here that can mount a real push for the play offs. The challenge now is to build on this platform, use the momentum over Christmas and put results together that get us up the table.
So what does that mean for the immediate future? First and foremost it means we go forward into 2018 with Shaun as our Head Coach. I have had very positive engagement with Shaun and the football staff over the last fortnight. Everyone is fully focussed on the task in hand and talk of new contracts is not high on anyone’s agenda. There is so much to play for this season before we even start looking ahead to next.
Second we already have a great group of players at Cambridge United but like any Club entering January we do want to help strengthen the squad in certain key areas. There is complete unity on our targets for the transfer window and the Board is fully supportive. Nothing is ever guaranteed in football and whether we can secure them is obviously another matter. Today's signing of Adam Phillips represents a very positive addition to the squad. We will be working hard to make this a successful January transfer window so we can push on in the best possible shape for the rest of the season.
Thank you again for all your valued support."
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