Farewell Kemp, farewell McLeary, farewell MANOR

Now things have settled down and the tears have been dried we can give a more detailed summary of yesterday's events.

Kemp Out

Shortly before the commencement of the club's Annual General Meeting it was revealed that David Kemp and Alan McLeary would be leaving United 'by mutual consent' (oh yeah?). Apparently Kemp offered to stay on for the final two games of the season but Firoz Kassam wisely declined this generous offer. Kemp's contract will be paid up, which explains why he was smiling after their meeting.

Annual General Meeting

At the AGM all four resolutions were passed, hardly surprisingly. It was revealed that the current debt secured on the Manor stands at just under £7 million, and that Firoka is to buy the stadium for £6 million, no other party having put in an offer for the ground. If the Lib-Dem favoured scheme of a school and library are to be built on the site Kassam could lose up to £3 million, whereas he stands to profit by up to £2 million should a more commercial development be agreed. The covenant on the Manor which is owned by the bowls club has been settled for the sum of £44,000.

A viewing platform is to be built at Minchery Farm so that interested people can watch progress and to ease security worries. The building work is still on schedule but there could still be a delay if there is a problem with some new steel that has had to be ordered to replace some that was damaged in the fire at the new stadium. Ticket prices will not be increased next season but season tickets will be for specific seats, with no flexibility as requested by those who responded to the Rage On survey. It was also revealed that current planning permission at the new ground doesn't permit rock concerts to take place.

Drawing a Vale over procedings

In the evening the Manor's final game ended in a 1-1 draw against Port Vale. Before the game Dean Whitehead received the Young Player of the Year award and Richard Knight the Supporters Player of the Season award. The game was watched by 7,010 (it would have been more but Port Vale only brought about 100 fans) and saw temporary boss Mike Ford give debuts to Simon King at left back and Jorden Holder, who came on for King, up front. There was also a recall for Rob Folland, forgotten by Kemp, who came on as a second half substitute for Jamie Brooks and who played in three different positions in his twenty minutes. Paul Tait came on for Manny Omoyinmi. United's final Manor goal was scored by Andy Scott in the 81st minute, but Tony Naylor equalised in the last minute. Darren Patterson was booked late on. A match report can be found here.

After the game Kassam addressed the crowd and pledged that he would invest money into the team. He stated that United are an ambitious club and that there was no rush to appoint a new manager. After his speech came the fireworks and then the final exodus from the ground, with many a tear shed by the departing fans.

It's the Gas, man

Elsewhere last night Cambridge did their survival hopes a lot of good by beating Colchester 2-1 at the Abbey Stadium to take them level on points with swindon, but below them on goal difference. This was rendered irrelevant tonight by Bristol Rovers losing 2-1 at home to Wycombe to fill the final relegation spot and join United in the third. In the Conference Yeovil lost 3-2 at home to Hereford to virtually guarantee league football for Rushden & Diamonds by virtue of their superior goal difference.