Histon chairman 'hopeful' that Steve Fallon will return

Fallon was appointed Histon manager in 1999

Histon chairman Tony Roach has said that he hopes suspended manager Steve Fallon will return to the Glass World Stadium "in the near future".

Fallon was asked to stay away from the Stutes in December after a dispute over restructuring the club's wage bill.

Roach told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "I've written a letter to Steve Fallon.

"We will then sit down and see if we can resolve the situation, but hopefully Steve will be back as manager in the near future."

Roach replaced Gareth Baldwin as chairman in November with the the club seemingly on the verge of administration.

"I believe we've been very close to administration and I think that's why the board have voted me on," Roach said on the day of his appointment.

"We're in a very distressed situation so hopefully my business experience can help us deal with that."

Roach initially claimed costs would have to be cut and star midfielder Josh Simpson was sent to Peterborough on loan with a view to a permanent deal.

Fallon was suspended following the dispute a month later, with four of the club's more experienced players - Jamie Barker, John Kennedy, Neil Andrews and Craig Pope - subsequently having their contracts settled.

However Roach appears to have had a change of heart and is now prepared to inject extra transfer funds into the club.

"I'm optimistic we have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs with the players we've got and a few additions," said Roach.

Those additions could include Cambridge trio Dan Gleeson, Mark Beesley and Robbie Wilmott, with temporary Stutes boss Alan Lewer confirming that he has been in contact with U's assistant manager Paul Carden.

"Martin Ling [Cambridge manager] might be looking to change things around so it was just a bit of a cheeky enquiry," said Lewer.

"I don't know if we have a chance of signing them or not, it depends on what Martin wants to do during the transfer window.

"The chairman's ambitious and we're still in a good position in the league.

"If we strengthen in the right areas I'm sure we can be a force."

Meanwhile, Histon have returned loan midfielders Billy Crook and Sam Long to Peterborough and Grays respectively.