Rolls becomes Cambridge chairman

Rolls played for Leyton Orient for three years

George Rolls has become the new Cambridge United chairman after being elected by his fellow board members.

Terry Baker, who was filling the job temporarily, takes over the vice-chairman position.

Rolls, whose company Trade Recruitment sponsor the side's Abbey Stadium ground, has been a director at the U's since November 2007.

He told the club's official website: "The key thing, for me, is continuity and stability and we haven't had that."

The U's have consistently struggled financially following relegation from the Football League in 2005.

Rolls has confirmed his ambition to get the club onto a solid financial footing and win promotion back into League Two.

"As of now the football club will be run as any limited business, the books have got to balance," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

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"We'll be working hard to improve revenue streams, but I've had a chat with the rest of the board and the manager and we're in full agreement."

Rolls has already warned fans to expect less investment in the playing squad next season.

Nevertheless the 34-year-old former Leyton Orient player believes the U's have a bright future and is keen to invest time and money in club's youth set-up.

"My personal aims for the club is to be financially on our own footing so that we don't need to rely on the directors to put their hands in their pockets to keep the business afloat," he said.

Rolls has been responsible for organising most of the U's transfer dealings over the past few months and has attracted some criticism from fans in that role.

There was some frustration over Scott Rendell's on-off move from Peterborough, but Rolls says he received a good reaction from the club's shareholders at the recent AGM.

"Everyone was very polite, nobody seems to have any grievances with me, they can see I'm there for the good of the football club," he said.