Most systems go!

Safety certificate granted

United were granted their interim safety certificate for the new stadium this afternoon, meaning that the friendly against Crystal Palace can go ahead as planned tomorrow. The upper tier of the South Stand will still be closed, meaning a capacity of just under 10,000, but all the toilet and refreshment facilities will be operational. It is still anticipated that the stadium will be fully open for the Rochdale game next Saturday.

United will field two triallists against Palace. Goalkeeper Tony Malessa will again feature and midfielder David Savage, on trial from Northampton, is also likely to get a game. United chairman Firoz Kassam stated that the club will be signing two new players over the weekend, so it could perhaps be these two, although it was hinted that the new signings wouldn't be at United in time to play tomorrow. There are no reports whether or not Paul Talbot is still being considered by United, who released the squad numbers for next season today:

1 Richard Knight; 2 Jon Richardson; 3 Paul Powell; 4 Scott Guyett; 6 Phil Bolland; 7 Martin Thomas; 8 Paul Tait; 9 Phil Gray; 10 Andy Scott; 11 Joey Beauchamp, 12 Dean Whitehead; 14 Manny Omoyinmi; 15 Sam Stockley; 17 Darren Patterson; 18 Wayne Hatswell; 19 Robert Quinn; 20 Jamie Brooks; 21 Chris Hackett; 22 Jon Shepheard; 23 Rob Folland; 24 Simon King; 25 Sam Ricketts; 27 Phil Wilson.