In a joint statement, they acknowledged the season’s challenges, noting the team won only nine league games and struggled from the outset, failing to win any of their first nine matches.

They felt that the squad was competitive in League One, with no significant gaps in quality, but results didn’t reflect this, leaving the club sitting 23rd and with 38 points form 45 games played.

The owners highlighted the club’s ambition and progress off the pitch, including buying back the Abbey Stadium in 2022 and plans for a new stadium.

They urged fans to stick with the team, expressing confidence in head coach Neil Harris to lead a promotion push in League Two.

The statement avoided sugarcoating the relegation but framed it as a setback in a broader journey, with a focus on regrouping and attacking the next season.

A message from Paul Barry on behalf of the Owners and Board.

— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) April 27, 2025

Cambridge United have been relegated after four seasons in the third tier 🚨 pic.twitter.com/riEtW2afoc

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 26, 2025

STATEMENT:

I will keep this relatively short, as we all know what a long and difficult season it has been from pretty much the first few minutes at Stockport…

It doesn’t need any further public dissection. We all know the reasons, which have been much discussed, and have made this a season to forget, with relegation now confirmed.

As Owners and Board, we know there are things we could have done differently and that the responsibility for any mistakes lies squarely with us.

After recent reviews, we have taken significant steps to try to learn from them, and this has already seen a change in people, process and governance on the football side, where Neil and Mark have already made a real and very noticeable impact in a short period.

As a collective, we will be working harder than ever over the summer to help create a winning culture and do better at every level of the Club.

The sting of relegation will take some time to pass for all of us. Whilst I recognise it is cold comfort at the moment, when it does, we can reflect that we will be returning to League Two a much stronger and very different Club than when we were promoted four years ago.

We now own the Cledara Abbey, and this week we have ‘pressed go’ internally and released the funding for the planning process on the redevelopment of the stadium. This should take around six months, and we will say more about the process in the coming weeks, when we present outline plans, before a formal consultation later in the year.

There will also be significant extra investment into the training ground over the close season, to address some of the outstanding issues there, so we can hit the ground running for pre-season.

The steadfast support of our existing partners and volunteers has been truly commendable. Thank you all. At the same time, we know we have a great executive team right across the Club and an outstanding leader in Alex Tunbridge.

As a Club, we have deepened and enhanced our relationships right across Cambridge, building on the great work of our Foundation. This is a pivotal time for the city, which presents us with a real opportunity to make the most of it.

Taken together – and with what we believe will be a competitive budget for League Two – it does mean we are going down with a mentality to really go after this next chapter and attack it on and off the pitch. The disappointment of this season must act as fuel for the future.

Finally, and most importantly thank you to all of you, our fans. Your unwavering support has been fantastic and has deserved much better.

We never take it for granted – not for a second – and we will all be working tirelessly between now and the start of next season to repay it and give you more to cheer about.

Paul

On behalf of Owners and Board

“You get relegated for a reason. You get relegated because you’ve just not been good enough over the course of a season,” he said.

“As a manager and head coach, you do have to rely on your players and I can’t trust the players.

“At the start of the second half we changed our shape and I can’t trust them to do what they need to do.

“We can’t run as a team, so we can’t defend one-on-one. We’re not good enough in the final third to have a killer instinct and we can’t defend our box – what chance have you got?

“It does hurt and the reality is when I took over I knew where we were going to be at because I knew the level of the group. I watch games and I see it really quickly.

“The level over the course of the season has been relegation level. You can’t hide away from that and I can’t sugar-coat it. I’m not prepared to do that because I speak honestly.

“I’m disappointed for the football club and the fanbase. I think it’s important I apologise on behalf of the football club for a disappointing season.

“All I can say is we’re going to be a better football club in a few months time than we are today, that’s for sure.

“To the fanbase that have followed us up and down the country and supported us again today – and have supported me since I came back – we’ll be better moving forward.

“Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two steps forward and that’s what we plan to do as a football club.”

Neil Harris reacts to today’s defeat and subsequent relegation from League One. pic.twitter.com/x4wv6WpJbk

— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) April 26, 2025

Michael Morrison’s thoughts following confirmation of the Club’s relegation. pic.twitter.com/07BD9KMBWP

— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) April 26, 2025

: Good statement just hope we do well in l2 next season 🤞🏻🤞🏻

: @Official_BRFC take note… we are still waiting for our comms. No idea how this will go down with Cambridge fans but least they have had the dignity and respect for fans to say it

: Relegation but the board commit sizeable funds for stadium redevelopment, further training ground improvements and a solid budget for an attempted return to league one. Certainly comforting to know that despite the season we’ve had, we’re still looking forwards and upwards!

: A brilliant statement from Paul 💛🖤 most of us have accepted relegation for months now, so the sting isn’t too bad. Bring on the change of scenery, League One hasn’t been good for anyone’s blood pressure in Cambridge let’s be honest 😅

: @bensadler12 you seem to have gone very quiet over the last 24 hours? Got anything to say? Maybe you should take notes from some of the other clubs who are making statements about there seasons not being good enough.

: A very open and honest statement. Although I’m absolutely gutted, I’m just glad that this season is done now. Let the refresh begin

: Now it’s time for the board and owners to show what they really want from this football club, do they want to give Harris every chance to go back up like port vale did because if they do then they have to make sure the front end of the pitch is filled with players who can do it!

: Nailed it. Difficult statement to make but no sugar coating and no excuses. As hideous as this season has been, there’s so much to be positive about for next season. Up the Mighty U’s 💛🖤

: Respect to the Cambridge board for this message to the fans following their relegation yesterday. I’m sure we’ll get similar from the Cardiff owner/board soon 🤔

: Although judgement from the board has come under question this year, what has been unwavering is their care for us as fans, and their love for the football club. Not something to take for granted at all. A good statement. #CamUTD

: Should’ve sacked Monk after the first 9 games this might not have happened

@rybarker16: You could argue the writing was on the wall since the home defeats to Exeter and Rovers, just give Harris whatever he needs in the summer to avoid the fate of double relegation like Forest Green and Carlisle in previous season/s. We’ll be back, UTID 💛🖤

HAVE YOUR SAY –

Do you see Cambridge United potentially winning promotion at the first attempt or will they struggle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @fan_banter