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Next Game: Home Against Farsley Celtic On Saturday March 23rd Kick-Off 3.00pm

Wednesday, May 29, 2002

May 2002

May 1st 2002

THREE Hereford United players have been included in the Welsh semi-professional squad for the upcoming Home Nations tournament.

Goalkeepers: Tony Roberts - Dagenham & Redbridge; Pat Mountain - Newport County.

Defenders: Lee Woodyatt - Chester City; Tony James - Hereford United; Neil O'Brien - Carmarthen Town; Gary Lloyd - Barry Town; Andrew York - Barry Town; Matthew Coupe - Forest Green Rovers.

Midfielders: Ricky Evans - Total Network Solutions; Mike Flynn - Barry Town; Tony Pring - Newport County; Nathan Davies - Newport County; Simon Davies - Bangor City; Paul Parry - Hereford United.

Forwards: Marc Lloyd-Williams - Bangor City; Gavin Williams - Hereford United; Mark Dickeson - Llanelli; Graham Evans - Caersws; Peter Smith - Telford United.

A SUPPORTERS consortium has tabled a bid for Graham Turner's Hereford United shares.

Bulls chairman Graham Turner confirmed that he received the offer, tabled by long standing supporter and BOLSA committee member Martin Watson.

BBC Hereford & Worcester reported that the consortium had sought the advice of people involved with the supporters trusts who had experience of aiding clubs in financial trouble, including Bournemouth and Chesterfield.

"This morning I submitted a written offer to Graham Turner to buy his Hereford United shares with the intention of forming a consortium of supporters to take over the Club," said Watson.

Turner is currently considering the response, and Watson told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "It's going to mean an awful burden, but I've mulled it over and if nobody else comes forward then this club is going to go down. I don't want to see that. I've given Graham Turner a letter stating my intention to form a supporters consortium. I'm waiting on a reply."

"The aim of the consortium is to keep the club going. If a bigger backer with a lot of money came forward then we would look to support them as it would be the better option for the club.

Supporters have saved clubs before, according to Watson. "There are certainly clubs still in business which wouldn't have been if it hadn't been for supporters consortiums. Bournemouth and Chesterfield may not have had the best of season but they are still in business and that's what we need."

"There are a lot of negotiations to go on over the summer but I want to see this football club start - and finish - next season, regardless of the £1.3 million (debt to Chelverton). If it takes a lot of work and money then I want to get that work done, and I want to find that money. The consortium needs to be finalised and discussions need to take place with the board; it is all very much up in the air."

The current stage have become weary at the current regime, and Watson continued: "If you don't want to be at a place, you're not going to do you best. Somebody else coming in with either money or enthusiasm has got to be better. With no disrespect to Graham (Turner) or Joan (Fennessy), they've worked very hard over the last few years but neither of them want to be there. The club has always required about £100,000 per season, so I would like to raise £100,000 over the course of the season."

Watson released the following statement: "It is my feeling that should no bidders with sufficient financial backing come forward then the supporters should take responsibility for the running of their Club.

"I am currently looking for details from any supporters that would be willing to join this consortium with either a cash donation, expertise, or both. Should sufficient interest be forthcoming, a meeting will be held in the near future to determine the financial ability and expertise of the consortium."

Any interested parties should contact Martin Watson, on 01432 277186 / 07879 887545 or martin@mwpc.co.uk.

A supporters meeting is due to take place next Thursday 9th May at the Richmond Club at 7.30pm. All are welcome to discuss the idea of a supporters consortium, and present will be a representative of Supporters Direct with a view to forming a trust.

May 2nd:

WALES' hopes of winning the Home Nations semi-professional tournament were boosted as Carmarthen Town manager Tommi Morgan included three Hereford players in his national squad.

Paul Parry, Gavin Williams and Tony James all made the nineteen man party due to compete against England, Ireland and Scotland in mid-May. Seven Conference players are set to take part, playing for sides as far apart as Dagenham & Redbridge to Chester City.

The tournament is to be competed for the first time this year. "It's certainly an innovative concept and hopefully a successful one. We will be doing our level best and we would love to win it," said John Deakin, secretary of the League of Wales. "It will be interesting to gauge how our semi-professional players compete and you never know how they will progress.

"We have got one or two young players in there like Mark Dickeson and Graham Evans who score a lot of goals."

The squad also includes Marc Lloyd-Williams of Bangor, the League of Wales' leading scorer, who previously played at Halifax and York City and Newport County goalkeeper Pat Mountain.

HUISA chairman Kevin Wargen has reacted to the news of Phil Robinson's departure from Edgar Street.

The player/coach was released on the day he was due to have a hernia operation, and Wargen told the Hereford Times: "Robinson did a good job in parts but I don't think that we saw the best of him. His playing form suffered a bit when he was controlling the team, although he did show his true form in a couple of matches. I can understand Robinson being released from his position as player-coach, but I regarded him as one of our best midfield players."

A list of released players is due to be unveiled tomorrow.

Meanwhile, this weekend sees the twenty four hour football marathon at Edgar Street. The Official Hereford United website reports that "eight or nine teams taking part this year and your support is very welcome."

HEREFORD United are due to hold several meetings next week to discuss the future of the club after chairman Graham Turner and secretary Joan Fennessy handed in their resignations, having not been paid for six months.

The board of directors hope to secure a deal with an unnamed investor who has offered to help the club financially until the end of next season.

Director George Hyde is quoted in today's Hereford Times as saying: "We don't know what will happen until we have had a meeting with another party who may be able to offer something financially in the short-term and move the club forward. But we have tried our hardest to keep Graham and Joan to stay and we are hoping that something can be done to ease the financial burden. Basically, the board are praying that the deal will happen and, hopefully, we will be able to make a positive statement sometime next week. In the meantime, I would urge that the supporters will bear with us."

Joan Fennessy commented: "Our resignations are still on the table and we have resigned. But we have agreed to look at the situation after the meetings next week. We have worked so hard to keep this club alive but there does come a time when you feel that enough is enough. We hear rumours that people are desperate for the club to survive - but they haven't come forward."

Hyde also vowed to quit if Turner and Fennessy left. "I don't think it's a secret that Graham and Joan have not been paid for six months and there are not many people who can go on like that," he said. "Graham has gone far and above the call of duty and all the board members wanted Graham not to resign. He is the ideal man in the special and unique circumstances of Hereford United. Joan, for her part, has also taken a lot of flack and is a woman with an incredible knowledge of how to run the football club. The pair have struggled with no money and, considering there are debts of £1.3 million, I think the club has done exceptionally well in the circumstances."

He added: "Sadly, Hereford United isn't a club which has a big financial backer and we have to manage on a shoe-string budget."

May 3rd:

NONE of the players out of contract at Hereford United have been retained, leaving a squad of just six.

Ian Wright, Scott Voice, Tony James, Matt Clarke, Matt Baker and Paul Parry remain Hereford United players, but the likes of Scott Goodwin, John Snape and Gavin Williams have been released following the expiration of their contracts.

It was announced earlier this week that player/coach Phil Robinson was to leave the club, and following him out of Edgar Street are John Shirley, Scott Goodwin, Stuart Jones, Ian Rodgerson, Jimmy Quiggin, Steve Piearce, John Snape, Rob Elmes, Gavin Williams and Ross Diamond.

However, chairman Graham Turner is still negotiating with Gavin Williams, and the club anticipate that many quality players will be available next season due to the financial constraints placed upon Football League team following the demise of ITV Digital.

It is expected that several of the players will re-sign for next season, with the move coming as the club attempts to save money over the summer period.

HEREFORD United are counting the cost of five seasons spent trying to run a full-time squad outside the Football League says the Independent. The Bulls, who were relegated to the Nationwide Conference in 1997, are struggling to repay their debts and are in a state of some turmoil off the pitch.

Hereford, who finished just above the Conference relegation zone, this week released their player-coach Phil Robinson, who was in charge of team selection and coaching. Their former manager, Graham Turner, seems likely to resign as chairman next week, as does the company secretary Joan Fennessy.

Turner has done more than anyone to keep the club afloat as they have grappled with their financial difficulties in recent years, but the burden has taken its toll. "It's been difficult over the past three years keeping the club afloat," the former Aston Villa and Wolves manager said. "It's been a terrific strain making ends meet, and there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough."

Turner added: "It's now appropriate that someone else comes in and takes on the problems of running the club." It is possible, however, that he may revert to the team manager's role, following the departure of Robinson.

Hereford need to raise at least £1m for debt repayments within the next 12 months, and they have only six contracted players for next season. They are hoping for financial assistance from Herefordshire Council, which has plans to build a leisure centre on land adjacent to the club's Edgar Street ground and also to help redevelop the stadium.


May 4th:

GAVIN Williams was the only squad member to be offered a new deal as Hereford United released all out-of-contract players yesterday.

The Welshman has rejected a the offer though, but the terms still remain on the table.

Outgoing chairman Graham Turner has been searching for players for next season, though. He told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "It gives us a chance to look at the open market and to see what is available. It's a chance for a big clearout and some fresh faces to coming in, and already we have a list of player that we're going to talk to. Obviously, with the position of the club at the moment, offers can't be made but we'll certainly find out whether there's an interest in Hereford United and then we can leave all that information for whoever may take the club on."

You can hear a 16 minute interview with Graham Turner this afternoon with Trevor Owens on BBC Hereford & Worcester between 2pm-6pm. The station can be found on 94.7FM, 104FM, 104.6FM and 738AM.

May 5th:

YESTERDAY afternoon, BBC Hereford & Worcester broadcast an interview between Hereford United chairman Graham Turner and their sports producer Trevor Owens.

Due to demand, a full transcript can be read below. The interview started with Owens outlining the events at Edgar Street this week, before moving onto Turner's resignation talks

GT: Well I think there was perhaps a couple of weeks before the end of the season we had discussed it and decided perhaps our time here had come to an end and we indicated to the board that we were going to resign, we probably needed another couple of points to be absolutely safe to be playing conference next season so we wanted to get that out of the way and there was obviously unrest about the place. We felt we needed a fresh impetus; fresh faces around the place, supporters needed fresh optimism to buy season tickets. So we felt the time was right to take that action. The board asked then if we would just put everything on hold; we had discussions with an individual and it has become apparent that there is no consortium around to take over the club, in fact people are very reluctant to get involved and I think one of the problems is obviously that £1 million pound repayable to developers in May 2003, but we have spoken to one individual, a very good supporter of the club, who perhaps will support the club in some way financially and there is another supporter who has expressed an interest in buying shares and putting a consortium of supporters together. I have written to him to say yep put your consortium together; come and sit around the table with the board of directors, tell us how you are going to run the club, what finance you have got to put in and so on. So those things have gone on but obviously there comes a time and the local press have put in about doing different jobs and pay. They are not the main issues; they have gone on for quite some time. We have been in debt before at the end of the season and survived, this summer is no different. And the place has not suddenly come to a halt. Provision has been made for reinstating the pitch for next season, kit is being done for next season through M & M and all those sorts of things are still being taken care of. In fact, we have lined up a list of players next week to talk to from other clubs, been freed from other clubs. And if somebody comes in and wants to take up that list or bring fresh faces it’s a great chance now, an opportunity for people to come in and take it on with almost a clean piece of paper so far as the staff and the playing staff are concerned. So the only thing lacking is these people coming forward with the finance.

TO: Has it come to the point when you and Joan (for want of a better) expression that you are swimming as hard as you can but still getting pushed gently back by the tide.

GT: I think to some extent that the feeling was we need fresh impetus don’t we. You know we have had a disappointing season that’s obvious. When I access the season as a football man you look at perhaps reasons why the season has been so unsuccessful, so disappointing in the conference and you look back and injuries, nobody can help injuries, they are going to happen, but we have had our five senior players who between them have played less than 45 league starts. You look at Phil Robinson himself, Ian Rogerson, Scott Voice, Steven Pierce, and Scott Cooksey, its almost half our wage bill there and between them they have not started one league game with more than one of them being on the pitch at any one time. So that have been a major problem to us when you get a chunk of players like that missing and that is one of the contributory factors why we have had such a poor season. You cannot have such a big whole in the staff. I look now at what we have got left and what we got under contract and if you look at Baker, Clark, Wright, James and Parry, I think they are five players that most conference clubs would relish having in their club, in their staff. Scott Voice has yet to prove himself, he is still under contract and so there is a nucleus there of a decent side. Lets say that everything is carrying on as far as work is concerned as normal and I think it will be resolved over the next fortnight exactly what is going to happen in the future of the club.

TO: It just seems that the situation here is always bad. Ever since I have been interviewing you that’s been the case but is it likely to come to a head, has it got that bad?

GT: The club will not go out of business next week; it will not go out of business next month. The only way it will go out of business, I believe is May 2003. Terry James and the council have come up with some super plans for the ground. There is talk of being able to take care of Chelverton in those plans. People being prepared to buy the leases back which would take care or should take care of the clubs future; and I see that as the only real way that the club could go under so I think that when people start talking about losing the club it will not happen next week. We are obviously under pressure as far as some bills are concerned. We have had debts ever since we joined the club and this summer is no different. It might be a little bit higher this summer and we might need an injection of cash fairly quickly but that is no different than what we have been used to. So the panic over the club folding, there should not be too much there because the club will survive. It is just that we felt that we needed fresh impetus. I think that there are lots of big mouths around the place, plenty of resources as far as wealth is concerned and the people who sit on the fence shout the most, do the most criticising and yet when it comes to the crunch there is the invitation now. We have taken it as far as we can; we need a fresh impetus. It is time to come in. Everybody has taken two steps back or three steps back or disappeared and all you can see is backsides running in the distance and that has left us with a problem of what is going to happen. And as I say we are talking to one individual who will take it on further next week.

TO: As regards Terry James and the councils plans, Surely the time has come now when they need to come out and really spell out what they are going to do because potential investors would have something to hang on to if they thought the Chelverton debt could be sorted out as part of those plans, then there is light at the end of the tunnel for once it is not an on-going train.

GT: Well I think there are problems for the council, that’s obvious. You have got to go through the procedure of the unitary development plan and there is not a magic wonder way where they can instantly say this will happen to Edgar Street and everything will be taken care of. So I can see the problems that the council have got in coming out with firm proposals at this stage when it has not gone through the proper procedures. But there is that light there at the end of the tunnel where the things that have been suggested by Terry James if they do come to fruition will be absolutely incredible for the club. It will be a terrific start for the club again and we just hope that comes about. But I can understand their position and them being unable to come out with those concrete proposals at the moment and reassuring everybody that everything will be taken care of and any potential investors should not have to worry about developers. I do not think that is the case at the moment. I do not think they are in a position to be able to reassure people at the moment but the plans that have been suggested I think are a great boost to everybody and it should lead to people being prepared to take a chance that it will all come to fruition. But at the moment there are not too many around prepared to take that chance.

TO: Changing tack and talking about the playing side of things, earlier this week it was revealed that the decision had been taken to release Phil Robinson.

GT: Well Phil’s contract was up and the board of directors decided not to renew his contract and with the exception of Gavin Williams there have been no new contracts offered to any of the players. I think there is a little bit of method in that in as much as we hear from league clubs now financial crisis, there is all sorts of players going to be available through the summer, players in the past who would have no doubt that if they got a better offer or could better themselves they would move on. You make them an offer at this stage and it is always a tool to use at other clubs; can you match this, can you beat that and I will sign for you. I think the strength now is moving back to clubs and I think we are in a position to say there are no offers immediately. The letter will go out to say we are not making you an offer. But then again there is no reason in weeks to come whether the likes of Scott Goodwin, any of them, the club should not go back to any of them and make them an offer. If in the meantime they fix themselves with another club and got themselves signed up and settled well we have lost them. But if they have not and I doubt whether some of them will there is always that opportunity to bring them back but it gives us a chance to now to look at the open market to see what is available, a chance for a big clear out and some fresh faces coming in. And already we have a list of players that we are going to talk to. Obviously with the position the club is in at the moment offers can not be made to them but we will certainly find out whether there is an interest in Hereford United and then we can leave all that information for whoever may take the club on. But I think it is a wonderful opportunity now for the club to build on the six players we have got under contract and strengthen the squad from last season as because obviously with that flirtation with relegation I think it have brought it home to everybody that we have got to have a stronger squad than we did last season. And then we come down to Gavin Williams. We have had a written offer from Chester for him; we have had a written from another conference club who he is talking to next week but he has been back up to see us. Obviously he wants to know about the stability of the club, obviously he wants to know what my intentions are and I think if it can settle down then I would not rule out the possibility of Gavin resigning for us but we have competition from two other conference clubs who are bigger payers than us but I think Gavin has been settled and I think at the back of his mind he would like to stay at Hereford but obviously money as far as players are concerned is an important factor and we have to face the possibility that Gavin might be playing in the conference next season for somebody else. But if he is the club will get a fee for him.

TO: Coming back to your position then, at the moment your resignation still stands. Were circumstances to change and you were still to be involved next season would that be more possibility with the hands of the managers role given that Phil Robinson has gone or would you be looking to bring in another coach. How would that work?

GT: Well we have not, the board and I stress the board, the board have not released Phil with the idea that I am just going to go in there and fill his shoes. We have not done that; we have not made a hole for me to go back into. But what I stated is that after three years sitting around a boardroom table and probably 80 to 90% of my time has been on administrative things and the problems of finance, I would like it to go the other way and be 70 to 80% on the training ground and 70 to 80% being involved with the football team. And I suppose that is the only way I would stay on here and I probably would not feel the need for a coach or a player-coach. But there is a lot to happen before that can come about. I think that at the moment the resignation is still on the table. There is the invitation to everybody surrounding Hereford United, please come in and help the club out financially and take it forward.

TO: You have clarified your position as regards the retained list. What is the position as regards Ian Rogerson as obviously he had physiotherapy duties here as well.

GT: First and foremost Ian was a player and he has not been offered, the offer of re-engagement. He has not been offered a new contract.

TO: And when you sit back in quieter moments and look back over the last three and a half years, do you regret getting involved in the way you did.

GT: Regret it big time. I do feel and that is not to put a big slant on it in our favour but had Joan Fennessy and myself and to some extent Ron Jukes, had we not taken over the shares of Peter Hill and the way the club was going at that stage, we do look back and feel there was a distinct probability that the club would have gone under. What we have done is in that period keep the club alive, keep it ticking over for somebody else and we stressed right from the out-set as soon as we bought the shares that they were available to anybody who wanted to come in and take the club forward and could provide the finance to do that. And that situation has never changed. It has been three and a half years or four years or whatever it is of real hard graft keeping the club alive. You have only got to take this weekend for instance, bank holiday weekend; we have got a football marathon on, 24 hour football that will raise funds for the club. There is outside helpers doing it, but Joan Fennessy will be down on Sunday, Sunday evening, probably Monday morning as well. So that’s her Bank Holiday, and that’s the sort of work that has gone into keeping the club alive. And there comes a time when you say well hang on, can we go on doing this, we want to give our selves a chance if we stay we want to feel there is a chance that the team can do well so therefore we need the finance to do it.

TO: Final point of all, this is really going out on a limb and I am already prepared for you to shoot me down in flames but given now that the carrot always was that if you got back into football league the television revenue was there and that would help, at the moment at least that is not there so Boston for example who are going up this season are not exactly going to be a lot better off as things stand as we speak at this moment, is there any case at all for the club going into liquidation and starting again all be it at a lower level.

GT: If that had happened four years ago that would have been fine, before we took the million pound loan I think that would have been the best course of action to wind the club up, start again, start again with fresh finance, clean sheets, might have been two divisions lower but we could have gone forward. Now the situation is that we have a lease and that is Hereford United 1939 and 82 limited with Chelverton. If the club goes out of business and reforms as Hereford United 2002 then we have no lease with anybody and therefore we would not have a ground to play at. So that is the great difficulty of folding the club and starting again. So therefore it would be right at the moment the wrong thing to do. It is still the aim obviously to get back into the football league. The finances of the football league clubs are now coming closer to the conference because we do not get any television money, we do not get a great deal from Nationwide, so there is a levelling out of the finances so certainly the aim is to get back in there and there looks in all probability that there will be two promoted clubs next season, one through automatic winning the championship and going up and the other play-offs so there is a top five place to aim for and that is a massive incentive for conference clubs And I am aware that some of the clubs are in financial difficulties, Telford for instance are off-loading a lot of players and it is probably significant when you look at the conference this season that the top four sides are the top payers, Doncaster, Yeovil, Dagenham, and Boston. And Boston have almost put their club in hoc to get their club up. I know that when we went there they were thinking of going into a C.V.A. at that time. So there have been problems with conference clubs financially and I think if we can get some stability, get a few more players here and get a fresh squad of players added to the six that we have got I think the team itself could be in a position to go forward but as far as I think Joan and myself are concerned that invitation now is there. It is time somebody else came in to take the club on and take the responsibility because there are some better times ahead simply through the plans for Edgar Street, simply through two up from the conference, so it is perhaps a good time for fresh people to come in.

TO: And if this individual does come forward to whom you are talking to at the moment there is every chance you might still be involved.

GT: I am not sure about that Trevor. I think there is a lot of talking to be done and I have said repeatedly particularly to supporters meetings that I would never leave the club in the lurch and I would not just walk out. If it does not materialise then how long we go on keep patching up I do not know, but as I said before things are already in motion to make sure that the club is in a strong position to start next season. That is the ground being done, the kit being arranged, players talking to, all the sort of things that you would normally do at the end of the season and very often the finish of the season means a lot more work. You know people think that the last match of the season that’s it, you have finished. There is a hell of a lot of work going on at the moment at the club and that will continue so there is no way we will just walk out and leave the club in the lurch but at the same time we keep repeating we have probably had enough of keeping it alive. It is time somebody else did.

May 6th:

SUMMER is traditionally a time of money shortages at Hereford United (is there a time that isn't!), so perhaps now is the best time to buy your season tickets.

By purchasing your tickets early, you will aid the club's summer cashflow and save yourself money. For further details, contact the club on 01432 276666 or send your cheques to Hereford United Football Club, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JU.

Area Ticket type On or before May 31st 2002 After May 31st 2002

Main Stand (Blocks B, C and D) Adult £154 £180
Child £96 £110

Main Stand (Block A) 1 Adult and 1 child £208 £240
Adult and 2 children £242 £280
Adult and 3 children £312 £357
2 Adults and 1 child £359 £410
2 Adults and 2 children £397 £453

Len Weston Stand Adult £154 £180
Child £96 £110

Terrace (Meadow or Blackfriars Ends) Adult £116 £140
Child £53 £65

March 7th:

WITH the future of Graham Turner and Joan Fennessy in the balance, Hereford United's progress could be determined this week.

Graham Turner says the board have been talking to a potential investor and there is also talk of a possible supporters consortium buying out Turner's shares.

The consortium, headed by Martin Watson, released the following letter today.

Dear Supporter,

As you may be aware, on the 1st May I launched a bid to form a Supporters Consortium in order to purchase the shares of Graham Turner and take over the running of Hereford United FC.

I am currently seeking pledges for donations to the Supporters Consortium of any amount, large or small, to enable the Consortium to purchase the shares and meet the initial shortfall in income of Hereford United, and to ensure the losses for the coming season are dealt with effectively. The ultimate aim is to transform the Consortium into a Supporters Trust to assist the long term stability of Hereford United FC.

A meeting has been arranged for Thursday May 9th, at the Richmond Club (7.30pm) for all interested parties to hear from a representative of Supporters Direct, a Govenment funded body which specialises in helping supporters form Trusts and take a more active role in their football club.

Obviously, with the new season just three months away, any incoming group will be facing the need to appoint a manager and build a competitive squad for the new campaign, so time is very limited to organise such a venture. Should you feel you are able to contribute please do not hesitate to contact me as soon as possible, but if you are undecided, I urge you to attend the
meeting to hear the proposals on offer.

Martin Watson.

01432 277186 / 07879 887545 / martin@mwpc.co.uk

Meanwhile, Hereford United's local Third Division rivals Kidderminster Harriers say they fully expect there to be "two up, two down" between the third division and the Conference next season, according to the BBC. The proposal was thrown out at last year's Annual General Meeting of the Football League, as club chairmen felt there was no financial package in place to support the relegated teams. This problem appears to have been resolved and the Harriers Media Manager, Steve Thomas, says it looks increasingly likely the Conference will get their extra promotion place.

May 8th:

FOLLOWING on from his sponsored Land's End to John o'Groats Bike Ride for the Bulls last Autumn, Hereford United supporter Jon Wells is now planning to embark on a shorter sponsored coast-to-coast trip across England and Wales during the course of the forthcoming long Jubilee holiday weekend. Only this time, as well as getting more sponsorship, he's also hoping that other Bulls fans will be able to join me for all or just part of the journey across Wales and England.

All funds raised will go to bolster the finances available to the proposed new Supporters Consortium/Trust, which hopes to raise funds to purchase enough shares and build up a reserve fund sufficient to take on the running of Hereford United at this difficult and uncertain time in the club's history. Should the Consortium not come to fruition then the funds raised will be passed on to whoever is in control of our Club to assist them in maintaining the survival and securing the future of the Football Club.

The journey will take five days to cycle the approximate 325 miles from St David's Head, the most westerly point of Wales, across to Lowestoft Ness, the most easterly point of England, and will average around 65 miles per day.

Provisional Schedule:-
Sat 1st June - St David's Head, Pembrokeshire - Llandovery
Sun 2nd June - Llandovery - Hereford
Mon 3rd June - Hereford - Banbury
Tue 4th June - Banbury - Cambridge
Wed 5th June - Cambridge - Lowestoft

If you would like to take part for all or just part of the ride (you don't need to be particularly fit and Jon is hoping some of you will be able to join me for a few miles at least in the Hereford area on the Bank Holiday Monday) or if you would like to sponsor Jon then contact him through the details below.

Jon Wells, Primrose Cottage, Hasfield, Gloucestershire GL19 4LQ.
Tel: 07989 904617 - email: jonwells@hotmail.com

Donations may be made by cheque payable to "HUFC Bike Ride" or by bank transfer to LloydsTSB, Bracknell, sort code 77-49-07 A/c no. 78898660

HEREFORD United's out of contract attacker Gavin Williams could be set to link up with another Conference club - Yeovil Town.

Should the move go through, Williams will be another player in a long line who has moved from Hereford to their Somerset-based rivals, following Michael McIndoe, Murray Fishlock, Jamie Pitman and Tony Pennock.

The Bulls will command a fee for Williams who, due to is age, is not eligible for a free transfer to Huish Park.

Chester City's bid for Williams of £15,000 has already been turned down.

May 9th:

AN official Hereford United statement has revealed plans for the near future. Graham Turner and Joan Fennessy will stay at the club, with Turner returning as manager.

The statement reads:

Following a series of meetings, proposals have been put forward to stabilise the club in the short term.

Supporters who are seeking further financial input from other supporters of the club have pledged a modest amount of finance.

Ultimately there will be a change of chairman, but Graham Turner has agreed to the request that he continue in that role for the time being. He will also take charge of first-team affairs for the coming season.

Joan Fennessy has been requested to withdraw her resignation and continue as company secretary, this she has agreed to do.

The Board of Directors and the benefactors hope that with the stabilising of the club supporters will now have confidence to renew their season tickets, and sponsors and advertisers will continue to support the club.

Work has commenced on rebuilding the squad for next season.

Meanwhile, attacker Gavin Williams is in discussions with Yeovil Town according to the Somerset side.

The out of contract 21 year old will command a fee under the Bosman ruling, and Yeovil boss Gary Johnson confirmed his interest. "Yes we are interested in Gavin Williams," he said. "The player wants to come to us. We are currently in negotiations with Hereford."

May 9th:

HEREFORD has three months to find a new site for the cattle market - or the whole Edgar Street redevelopment plan could be shelved.

Council leader Terry James said that the future of the football club is in the balance if a new site is not found, as is the new development which could include a multiplex cinema, leisure centre, arts academy and county council headquaters.

The council's attempts to move the market to Beeches Business Park and Hospital Farm both hit stumbling blocks.

Meanwhile, tonight's meeting with Supporters Direct will be held in the Richmond Club. Start is at 7.30pm. Co-ordinator Martin Watson, who has made a bid to buy Hereford United chairman Graham Turner's shares, told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "The response has been very positive. We are aiming to get to six figures (£100,000), and hopefully with the meeting tonight we will get very close to that."

May 10th:

A MEETING of Hereford United supporters backed further investigation into the Supporters Direct scheme which could see the fans take over the running of the club.

An almost unanimous majority voted for the initiative following a speech from Supporters Direct officer Simon Vince.

Martin Watson, who is behind the Hereford United bid for a supporters consortium to take control of the club, answered questions as did Richard Burkin, Keith Dodd and Gary Smith. Kevin Wargen, the HUISA chairman, chaired the meeting.

It was revealed that two anonymous backers have stated an interest in the club, but will only stay on board if Graham Turner remains. Also, it is unclear whether they will work with a supporters trust, or if they will reveal their identity. Martin Watson said that they will remain anonymous for at least twelve months.

The supporters trust would see as many shares as possible collated together under one scheme, which would include buying Graham Turner's share and investigating the whereabouts of many others. Eventually, the supporters would be in control of the club, running it seemingly as a not-for-profit organisation. Enfield Town's supporters are in full control of their club, and around sixty clubs are now part of the scheme.

There was some opposition and apathy to the scheme, but the overwhelming feeling was that a supporters trust is the future for Hereford United.

HEREFORD United could be set to make their first signing of the summer - from Telford United.

Out-of-contract defender Jim Bentley is thought to be wanted by the Bulls, but they face a race with two second division clubs for his signature.

The twenty six year old was Telford's second top scorer last season.

Also hinted to be returning to Edgar Street is Neil Grayson. The veteran striker has just been released by Cheltenham Town.

YEOVIL Town have confirmed that Hereford United attacker Gavin Williams has signed for the Huish Park club.

The 21 year old Welshman had been offered a new contract at Hereford, it is thought which 'matched' his terms at Yeovil. However, he has chosen a move away from Edgar Street.

United are negotiating a fee with Yeovil for the move as Williams is not eligible for a free transfer under the Bosman ruling.

His new two year deal ends a five year association with Hereford . "What Gavin can give us," explained Yeovil manager Gary Johnson, "is that he can play either of the front two roles, or he can play wide right, wide left or as the man just in behind the front two. He gives us great options. He's a quality player and these sort of players don't come along every day. The best thing about it is that he sees the potential in us just as much as we see the potential in him."

Williams said, "I'm glad to get it all sorted. I'm just looking forward to next season, and hopefully do well for Yeovil. If the team plays anything like they did against Hereford then certainly we've got to be challenging for the league".

When asked if he had been approached by any other clubs he said: "There were one or two I could have gone for trial with but I don't think it was right to go for trials and I came down to Yeovil and liked what I saw and I thought it was right for me. I spoke to Mike McIndoe and he told me what it was like and I came down and saw for myself.

"It could be a big club, and they got the best crowds in the league last year so hopefully if we do well on the pitch the crowds will come and hopefully we'll get promoted. I'm a bit disappointed that I can't be involved in the Trophy final but hopefully the lads will do well and win the cup for Yeovil. I'm a bit sad to be leaving Hereford. I've had five good years there but I just felt the time was right to move on."

May 12th:

TODAY's Non-League Paper reports that Hereford United and Yeovil Town have come to an agreement over the transfer of Gavin Williams.

The out of contract Welshman, just twenty one, was rumoured to be worth £100,000 but 'it is understood to be less than half what Hereford were asking', bringing the price to around £40,000.

United coach Graham Turner is believed to have taken the money rather than risk the lottery of a tribunal.

The income raised from the transfer will help support the club throughout the pre-season campaign.

May 13th:

HEREFORD United chairman Graham Turner has confirmed that the Bulls have spoken to Telford United defender Jim Bentley.

Bentley's signature will be a coup for the Edgar Street club, as at least two other Football League clubs are thought to have discussed terms with him. Today's Shropshire Star said that a decision on Bentley's future is imminent.

United have yet to sign a player this summer, but lost Gavin Williams to Yeovil Town last week. "They made him an outstanding personal offer," said Turner, although it is thought that Hereford matched the contract financially.

Meanwhile, Halifax Town have been accepted to the Conference for next season following a meeting of officials on Friday.

May 14th:

HEREFORD United have confirmed that Gavin Williams has joined Yeovil Town.

The Bulls were refusing to comment over the move when the news broke last week, but now chairman Graham Turner said that the teams are negotiating a fee.

Meanwhile, season ticket sales are increasing significantly and the club would like to thank those people who have continued to show their support in the club, according to the official website.

May 15th:

HEREFORD United's Tony James and Paul Parry helped Wales to a 1-1 draw against England in the Unibond Four Nations Tournament at Boston United last night.

An attendance of just 404 turned out for the game which Wales led from the sixty sixth minute though Neil O'Brien. A Simon Weatherstone goal three minutes into added time equalised for the English.

Gavin Williams, who recently moved from Hereford to Yeovil, also started in the Welsh team.

Following the game, Wales semi-professional manager Tommi Morgan has responded to the late, late goal that robbed his side of the points. “In truth, I am absolutely gutted”, Morgan told theFa.com. “I thought we had the better of the play in the second half, passed the ball around well and created some good chances, and was disappointed to find four minutes of injury time. However, our players have only met up for three days before tonight’s game, and I am very proud of how they played against such an established side as the England National Game XI.”

Wales now face Scotland at Kettering Town’s Rockingham Road on Thursday 16th May at 7.30pm and Morgan said: “We will be going into the game a little bit blind as I don’t know too much about the Scottish side. My players are bitterly disappointed that they didn’t hold on for a win tonight, but we will lift them tomorrow, have a light training session and go out to try and gain three points on Thursday.”

John Owens was understandably happy that his side had gained a point after a disjointed display against the Welsh. “I felt some of my players were a bit nervous tonight”, said Owens, “and I felt we struggled to break the Welsh down. They passed the ball well, closed us down when we had possession, and at this level, if you get a half-chance, it is important to put some of them away.”

Meanwhile, the FA have announced that the FA Trophy will be known as the 'FA Carlsberg Trophy' from next season, after the brewery became a principal partner of the Football Association. A multi-million pound deal sees Carlsberg join Nationwide, Umbro, and McDonald’s as part of a select group of commercial sponsors.

May 16th:

GRAHAM Turner has responded to the news that he will stay as manager and chairman for the time being.

He told the Hereford Times: "What I desperately wanted to do was get back on to the training ground and, now that things have stabilised, it has settled the issue as a far as I am concerned. We have a position in the club where a very small group of supporters has agreed to put in a five-figure amount and, ultimately, they will take control of the club.

"This small group of supporters is different from the trust supporters. The money is to ensure that the club survives over the short-term, which we are considering as until May 2003," he continued. "This money will ensure that any shortfall is helped to be met. But we cannot go for broke on players because that would not be a responsible step to take in the circumstances. We still owe a lot of money.

"The clock is still ticking and Chelverton have not given up hope of working with the council in terms of redeveloping the Edgar Street site. We are still hoping there can be co-operation between Chelverton and the council."

SPECULATION is mounting over the return of two prominent midfielders to Hereford United.

It is thought that Scott Goodwin and John Snape, who were both released last month, could be set to rejoin the Edgar Street club for next season.

There was much disappointment when both were released, particularly Goodwin who was some people's player of the year.

Hereford United's current squad of just six players is expected to be boosted within the next few days, and chairman Graham Turner was set to have talks with three players today. He said: "There are a combination of things that we are looking at and there has to be a cross section in terms of age and experience. For instance, we are talking to players from Football League clubs to the league below us."

It appears, though, that Telford United defender Jim Bentley will not be signing for Hereford. Instead, Jimmy Harvey is likely to secure his signature for Morecambe. "I'd been in talks with a second and third division club but Morecambe have made me a fantastic offer and I need to get things sorted," Bentley told the Shropshire Star.

"Morecambe is close to my home, they are full-time and very ambitious and they're going for promotion to the League next season. And I think they'll be there or thereabouts. It's a one-year deal but Telford weren't able to make me an offer and I need to stay full-time. I spoke to Jake King (the Buck Head manager) yesterday. I feel sorry for him. He's in an awkward position and his budget is going to be the lowest in the Conference. He's having to let a lot of players go."

Meanwhile, today's Hereford Times reports a fee of £22,500 was paid for Gavin Williams, including a 25% sell on clause.

Turner commented: "It was disappointing to lose Gavin - and for such a small fee - but he was out of the contract here and if you look at the deal he has been offered by Yeovil it's quite startling for a Conference club. If we hadn't agreed a fee with Yeovil, his price would have been settled by a transfer tribunal - and we couldn't afford to take that risk in light of past experiences, particularly with Dean Smith."

One of Hereford's six players, Ian Wright, has undergone a successful double-hernia operation and will be resting for a couple of weeks.

May 17th:

WALES have won their second match in the Unibond Four Nations Tournament, beating Scotland 2-1, to set up a thrilling finale with the Republic of Ireland.

Hereford United's Tony James and Paul Parry featured in the match which puts Wales second in the table, two points behind the Republic of Ireland, on four points. The two meet in the final match. England have just two points, whilst Scotland have yet to open their account. The final games are played on Saturday.

After a slow start Wales played very good football in the second half of the match. They took the lead against Scotland in the 57-minute when Gary Lloyd scored direct from a free kick. Wales increased their lead in the 82-minute when Graham Evans, who had replaced Marc Lloyd-Williams scored following a very good move. Like in the England match Scotland scored their only goal in the third minute of injury time.

In tonight's other game, England lost 2-1 against Ireland, leaving the Irish needing just a draw from Saturday's game against Wales at Boston United, kick off 2pm, to win the championship. However, a Welsh win would see them take the Trophy. Only Wales or Ireland are still in with a shout of securing glory!

HEREFORD United supporter Jon Wells is planning to set out on a sponsored coast-to-coast bike ride across England and Wales during the course of the upcoming long Jubilee weekend (1st - 4th of June)

All funds raised will go to bolster the finances available to the proposed new Supporters Trust, which hopes to raise funds to purchase enough shares to allow ordinary supporters to have a stake in the running of Hereford United Football Club.

The trip involves pedalling the approximate 325 miles from St David's Head, the most westerly point of Wales, across to Lowestoft Ness, the most easterly point of England.

Please support his efforts by sponsoring him. Donations may be made by cheque payable to "HUFC Bike Ride" and send to the address below:

Jon Wells,
Primrose Cottage,
Hasfield,
Glos GL19 4LQ

email: jonwells@hotmail.com

Alternatively, you may make a donation by bank transfer to:

Bank : LloydsTSB, Bracknell
Sort code : 77-49-07
A/c no. : 78898660

Jon commented: "Thanks to all those of you who have already pledged an amount to sponsor me. If you haven't made a pledge yet, then please, please do so!. Any amount, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciatedas we aim to build up the finances available to the Supporters Trust that will eventually enable us, the fans, to have a much greater involvement in the running of HUFC."

May 18th:

THE Wales semi-professional team wrapped up the Unibond Home Nations Tournament championship with a stunning 5-2 win over nearest challengers Republic of Ireland at Boston United.

Hereford United's Tony James and Paul Parry featured in all three of the games of which Wales won two and drew one.

In today's match, Tommi Morgan's side were 1-0 up at the break, but ended up convincing winners. Elsewhere, Scotland picked up the wooden spoon as they lost 2-0 against host country England.

Meanwhile, ex-Hereford player/coach Phil Robinson has been appointed as the new player-manager of Dr Martens League Premier Division club Stafford Rangers following his release from Edgar Street.

GRAHAM Turner has outlined the current situation at Hereford United Football Club as he sees it, and spoke to BBC Hereford & Worcester this afternoon.

Of the injury situation, he said: “Ian (Wright) will start a rehabilitation programme within the next week or so, he has had a double hernia operation. Matt Clarke had one just before the end of the season and Scott Voice has been out for quite some time. All will have rehabilitation programmes through the close season and I expect them all to be fully fit when we start training in the first week of July."

No friendly games have been announced and Turner explains why. "We have had talks with a couple of Premiership clubs being prepared to come and play us so what I have done is left all the dates open and now it does not look as it is materialising, one or two clubs have had complications, trips aboard, other competitions so it is a matter of hard work now and getting it all sorted out very quickly," he said. "Usually I have had it done well before the end of the season but the offers of a couple of Premier clubs coming down was too much to turn down at that stage; we left all the dates open for them but now we have got to scramble around and get what we can. We had two terrific ones last season, particularly the one against Man. Utd when they sent eleven internationals. We were hoping for something similar from another Premiership club this season this pre-season, but it hasn’t materialised and we move on from there and we’ll get it done as quickly as we can.

The finances were one again described as very poor by chairman Turner. "There have been certain pressures to keep the club alive and the problems financially are well documented," he said. "We do have great difficulty paying our way but we’ve got a couple of supporters who are prepared to back the club financially with a modest amount. It is not going to allow us to go overboard with spending we certainly won’t be paying any transfer fees out, but it has just supported the losses and with that confidence and probably delegated other work around the place I’m able to put my tracksuit on and I’ve said to the players who are with us and the players I’ve interviewed I’m going to be totally involved now again in the football. I’ll take the coaching and training, picking the side and obviously we hope for better results this coming season. But I’m quite excited by it all again, perhaps it lifts a burden of finance and the enjoyment of working with players”.

Nicola Goodwin, who interviewed Turner, later commented that he looked really relaxed sitting in the boardroom in his tracksuit. He is really excited about getting back into management and feels that he can make a difference. He is aiming very high, and does not think Hereford United is slipping away and wants to get the very best players that money can buy so he is going to wait and see who else is released. If he cannot get players of the standard he wants, he will look at the players he has released. Hereford is a club on the way back, said Turner, who has identified his targets for next season and they are of a high playing standard.

Meanwhile, Hereford are in the running to sign midfielder Gary Fitzpatrick who is out of contract at Telford United.

A superb ball player, Fitzpatrick has had his fair share of injury problems and was released by the Bucks Head club in cost cutting measures earlier this month.

May 19th:

RICHARD Price, aka. Bolton Bull, has been appointed as the new vice chairman of the Hereford United online supporters association BOLSA.

The announcement came after a vote last night in which Price gained a large majority for the position.

The role became available following Jon Wells' resignation as chairman, and then vice-chairman Graham Johnson was promoted to the top spot.

Meanwhile, ex-Hereford player Chris Price has joined city side Westfields as youth team coach, whilst Paul Tester, a United player in the 1980s, has quit as boss of Midland Alliance side Bridgnorth Town.

May 20th:

HEREFORD United are hoping to attract some big names to Edgar Street over the summer, and manager Graham Turner is already talking to some of them.

The Bulls supremo has said he has spoken to ten players, made a couple of offers and hopes to have his first signing completed by the weekend.

Deals could have been offered to players from clubs as high as Division One as the ITV Digital crisis hits, with some 900 Football League players available.

"I've made one or two offers but we're still waiting answers and other players I've yet to make an offer to," said Turner in tonight's Evening News. "At the first meeting I like to talk about soccer because it is a big step from the first division to the Conference."

May 21st:

The Nationwide Football Conference Annual General Meeting is to be held on Saturday at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Items on the agenda include the two-up issue with Division Three, and also the future of Halifax Town who are currently in administration.

The promotion issue will also be discussed on Saturday, June 8th at the Football League AGM, where two-up could be confirmed.

Furthermore, the official HUFC site (www.herefordunited.co.uk) suggest that the Conference fixtures will be released on the same day as those from the Football League.

May 22nd:

TWO of the players released by Hereford United at the end of the season could be set to re-sign - for their former club Halesowen Town.

Halesowen have just been promoted back to the Dr. Martens League Premier Division after one season in the Western Division and attackers Steve Piearce and Rob Elmes are thought to be having talks with the club they left in 1999 to link up with Hereford.

Should the two return to the Grove, they will rekindle a productive partnership to bolster a Halesowen side eager to consolidate their league status next season.

Meanwhile, Birmingham City defender Tony Capaldi, who joined Hereford on-loan last season for a spell, has ended rumours about a return to Edgar Street by signing a new one-year deal with the St. Andrews based side.

HEREFORD United may have only announced one pre-season friendly, but it sees a Football League favourite returning to Edgar Street.

The Bulls host Bristol City of Division Two on Saturday, 3rd August with a 3pm kick off, hoping to gain revenge for last season's 1-0 friendly defeat.

On that day, Greg Goodridge scored the only goal.

May 23rd:

HUISA have sent out a letter to members asking whether they agree with the discussions regarding the formation of a supporters' trust.

Chairman Kevin Wargen has said that several local businessmen have pledged their support to a trust, which will be formed regardless of HUISA's participation.

Supporters Direct are coming back to Hereford for another meeting at the Richmond Club on Tuesday, June 6th. It starts at 7pm and all are welcome.

GRAHAM Turner has revealed that Hereford Uniteed have made a couple of offers to players for next season.

"I've made one or two offers but we're still waiting answers and other players I've yet to make an offer to," said Turner in today's Hereford Times. "At the first meeting I like to talk about soccer because it is a big step from the first division to the Conference." The un-named players are expected to make decisions on their futures within the next few days.

Meanwhile, Bromsgrove Rovers have entered the running for Hereford midfielder John Snape. Snape, who was released at the end of the season, is wanted by several Southern League sides but he has yet to receive an approach from Rovers, who were promoted from the Midland Alliance last season. Rob Elmes, a former player with Bromsgrove, is also rumoured to be wanted by the Worcestershire-based side.

May 25th:

DESPITE finishing seventeenth in the Conference, having no money for transfers and just six players in the current first team squad, Hereford United captain Ian Wright is confident that his side can push towards the top of the league next season.

An influx of new signings from the Football League is expected and Wright told the Evening News: "The aim is to get some decent players in and be up there challenging, especially with two teams going up next year.

"For the last two or three years it has been either one or two teams running away with it but with this play off place it opens it up. With around ten games to go we could have finished in the top five if results had gone our way but they didn't."

After home form let the side down in 2000/01, Wright blamed Hereford's away form for last season's disappointment. "We started off well and had a good cup run but we struggled in the league especially away from home," he said. "There was no particular reason for that other than perhaps that we were more confident at home. Everyone knows that defensively we are one of the best in the league it was just scoring that we struggled to do."

Wright will start his fifth season in Hereford colours in August and is still happy with life at Edgar Street. "I'm enjoying myself and was quite pleased with my own form and scored a couple of vital goals," he added.

Currently recovering from a double hernia operation, Wright was playing through the pain barrier at the end of last season to prevent a Hereford relegation and commented: "It was just a case of putting up with the pain as much as I could and it was only in the last couple of games that I had to come off."

Meanwhile, Bromsgrove Rovers are deying rumours linking them with the signing of Hereford midfielder John Snape, who was released at the end of the season. However, United have provisionally agreed to travel to the Dr. Martens League Western Division side on Tuesday 30th July for a pre-season friendly.

TRANMERE Rovers will visit Edgar Street in a pre-season friendly on Friday, July 19th 2002.

Hereford United host the second division side in a 7.45pm kick off.

Meanwhile, it is rumoured that Steve Piearce, John Snape and Rob Elmes have all been offered contracts to return to Dr. Martens League Premier Division side Halesowen Town.

May 26th:

IT is rumoured that Hereford United will play at Newport County on Monday 29th July in a pre-season friendly.

However, it has also been banded about that Hereford will go to Bromsgrove the following day, so one of the matches will have to be rescheduled.

Meanwhile, the Non-League Paper has slammed the Football Association for their organisation of the Unibond Four Nations Tournament.

The event, won by Wales, was a success in terms of generating interest in the non-league game but disappointing attendances were attributed to the FA's decision to locate the matches at geographically isolated Boston United and Kettering Town.

Th top attendance was just 847, and it was suggested that playing the matches close to national borders (such as Morecambe and Southport for Scotland or Hereford United and Chester City for Wales) would have dramatically boosted attendances.

It is thought that Wales will host the tournament as champions next season, and the exposure has given the Welsh game a much needed boost - a new sponsorship deal for the national league is expected to be announced soon.

THE Nationwide Conference have agreed in principle a new television contract with Sky Sports, worth £250,000 per annum.

All clubs in the league will receive £10,000 regardless of whether they feature in live matches or not in the two-year deal, according to the Non-League Paper. Those who host or play in live matches will gain extra revenue.

Sky will feature more live games and a weekly highlights package from the league, but the exact amount involved will be kept secret.

"Televised Conference football has been a huge success," said Conference chief executive John Moules. "We're hoping for a double boost this season with a new Sky deal and increased promotion to the Football League. We've been absolutely delighted with the coverage we've had from Sky."

At yesterday's AGM, Conference chairmen discussed the play-off system likely to be implemented if the second promotion place is accepted by the Football League on June 8th. The move has been agreed in principle but needs to be accepted by the Football League members. If the FA (don't they mean Football League - Ed) give the go ahead for a further promotion place at a meeting shortly then the Conference will introduce play off with the 2nd playing the 5th and the 3rd versus the 4th place team. if a team does not fulfill the Football League criteria then their opponents will be given a bye to the play off final.

Further good news emerged yesterday as sports company Mitre agreed a two-year contract to supply boots, gloves and balls to the Conference.

Again, the figures have been kept under-wraps but 2,200 new ISO-Conference balls will be supplied to the league, at a cost of £75 each. All full time players will receive a free pair of boots and goalkeepers also given Pro-Punch gloves.

Rules changes in the Conference next season will see squad numbers used for the first time, as well as names printed on the back of shirts.

May 27th:

HEREFORD United are expected to announce their first pre-season signings within the next twenty four hours.

According to their official website (www.herefordunited.co.uk), several players were undergoing medical examinations today and should complete their moves to Edgar Street soon.

Any incoming players will bolster Graham Turner's squad, which currently stands at six players.

May 28th:

GRAHAM Turner has revealed that he is on the verge of bolstering his Hereford United squad for next season.

Talks are at an advanced stage with three players over moves to Edgar Street and they will form part of what Turner hopes will be an eighteen-man squad for next season, with the vast majority being full-time professionals.

However, until the deals have been signed and sealed, the players will remain nameless.

Meanwhile, Hereford United will play Dr. Martens League Western Division side Bromsgrove Rovers in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, 30th July. Kick off at the Victoria Ground will be at 7.45pm.

May 29th:

FORMER Hereford United and current Shrewsbury Town physiotherapist Simon Shakeshaft is upbeat about winning his battle with cancer.

The popular 37-year-old, nicknamed 'Shakey' during his time at Edgar Street, revealed he was diagnosed with the testicular form of the disease three weeks ago. However, he has caught the tumour early giving him a 95 per cent chance of a full recovery.

And he is counting on his renowned sense of fun to help him get through the fight ahead, which includes two sessions of chemotherapy a week.

Shakeshaft is organising a number of events to raise awareness of testicular and prostrate cancer and raise money, and we wish 'Shakey' a speedy recovery.

EX-Hereford United midfielder John Snape has joined local rivals Worcester City of the Dr. Martens League Premier Division.

The thirty two year old, released by the Bulls at the end of last season, has put pen to paper on a deal after considering offers from several clubs, rumoured to include Bromsgrove Rovers and Halesowen Town.

The deal ends speculation that Snape could make a swift return to Edgar Street.

John Barton, manager of Worcester has said: "I have been tracking John for along time now and delighted to have finally signed him. He has a big influence on the pitch and will play an important part for us. He is a key signing and has turned down several other clubs to join us."

John Snape recalls pleasant times with Hereford. "The Conference has been very good to me, and I've done OK, but at Worcester now I'll hopefully be at the right end of the table all the time. We can get back into the Conference again." he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Meanwhile Bulls' boss Turner is believed to be close to making his first signings of the summer for the Edgar Street club.

"Graham is talking to Football League players and things are progressing well," said club director Joan Fennessy in tonight's Evening News.

May 30th:

JON Wells, who was set to cycle from west to east across Great Britain, has had to postpone his trip.

The sponsored ride has delayed as Jon has been forced to undergo medical treatment this week, and will not be fit enough to cover the journey.

However, he's provisionally looking to do the ride at the start of July - which has the advantage of meaning that there is more time to get even more sponsorship.

Meanwhile, ex-injury hit Hereford striker Steve Piearce has joined Hednesford Town on a two year deal.

HEREFORD United are thought to be close to the signing of a number of players for the 2002/03 Nationwide Conference season.

Manager Graham Turner is talking to several players including Southend United midfielder Ben Smith. The twenty three year old has been released by the Third Division club after injury problems, but previously has a successful spell with Yeovil Town. He has passed a fitness test and negotiations are currently ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Hereford Times report United also hope to organise a home match with Premier-ship giants Everton, who beat Hereford 2-1 in an entertaining friendly at the beginning of last term. The Merseyside outfit have provisionally agreed to send a team to Edgar Street for a pre-season fixture but the details have yet to be finalised.

May 31st:

HEREFORD United have yet to confirm any pre-season signings, but two of their former players are rumoured to have linked up with Halesowen Town.

Rob Elmes and Jimmy Quiggin, both released at the end of the season, have found new clubs as has John Snape and Phil Robinson. One player who has not yet had his fate decided is Steve Piearce, contrary to earlier reports. The ex-Halesowen Town attacker, who eight league goals in three season with Hereford, has not yet signed for Hednesford Town.

Piearce said: "At present I am in negotiations with several clubs and hope to make an announcement in the next couple of days. No deal has been signed with any club at present but I hope to have the matter resolved shortly."

Meanwhile, BBC Ceefax confirm that Swindon Town will visit Edgar Street for a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, July 23rd. Kick off will be at 7.45pm.

Monday, May 20, 2002

Keep up-to-date...
with the latest transfer news at Hereford United FC with HU-FC.co.uk.

Saturday, May 18, 2002



Non League Results:
England 2 Scotland 0
Ireland 2 Wales 5

Hereford are in the running to sign Midfielder Gary Fitzpatrick who is out of contract at Telford.

Hereford are in the running for the signature of Telford Midfielder Gary Fitzpatrick who is out of contract.

Thursday, May 16, 2002

Wales secure three points
Wales have won their second match in the Unibond Four Nations Tournament, beating Scotland 2-1.

Hereford United's Tony James and Paul Parry featured in the match which puts Wales second in the table, two points behind the Republic of Ireland, on four points. The two meet in the final match. England have just two points, whilst Scotland have yet to open their account. The final games are played on Saturday.

After a slow start Wales played very good football in the second half of the match. They took the lead against Scotland in the 57-minute when Gary Lloyd scored direct from a free kick. Wales increased their lead in the 82-minute when Graham Evans, who had replaced Marc Lloyd-Williams scored following a very good move. Like in the England match Scotland scored their only goal in the third minute of injury time.

In tonight's other game, England lost 2-1 against Ireland, leaving the Irish needing just a draw from Saturday's game against Wales at Boston United, kick off 2pm, to win the championship. However, a Welsh win would see them take the Trophy. Only Wales or Ireland are still in with a shout of securing glory!

Tuesday, May 14, 2002

Wales robbed of win
Hereford United's Tony James and Paul Parry helped Wales to a 1-1 draw against England in the Unibond Four Nations Tournament at Boston United tonight.

An attendance of just 404 turned out for the game which Wales led from the sixty sixth minute though Neil O'Brien. A Simon Weatherstone goal three minutes into added time equalised for the English.

Gavin Williams, who recently moved from Hereford to Yeovil, also started in the Welsh team.

Monday, May 13, 2002

Turner confirms Bentley interest
Hereford United chairman Graham Turner has confirmed that the Bulls have spoken to Telford United defender Jim Bentley.

Bentley's signature will be a coup for the Edgar Street club, as at least two other Football League clubs are thought to have discussed terms with him. Today's Shropshire Star said that a decision on Bentley's future is imminent.

United have yet to sign a player this summer, but lost Gavin Williams to Yeovil Town last week. "They made him an outstanding personal offer," said Turner, although it is thought that Hereford matched the contract financially.

Meanwhile, Halifax Town have been accepted to the Conference for next season following a meeting of officials on Friday.

Friday, May 10, 2002

Gav out - to Yeovil
Yeovil Town have confirmed that Hereford United attacker Gavin Williams has signed for the Huish Park club.

The 21 year old Welshman had been offered a new contract at Hereford, it is thought which 'matched' his terms at Yeovil. However, he has chosen a move away from Edgar Street.

United should receive a fee from Yeovil for the move as Williams is not eligible for a free transfer under the Bosman ruling.
One in, one to stay?
Hereford United could be set to make their first summer signing, and retain a crucial player.

Telford United's out of contract defender Jim Bentley has been linked to the club, but the Bulls will fight with two un-named Division Two sides for his signature. Bentley, age 26, was the second top scorer at Bucks Head last season.

Hereford attacker Gavin Williams could also be set to stay at the club. Despite the financial crisis, the Bulls have said they 'will match' whatever he is offered by Yeovil Town, who were thought to be close to his signature.

Meanwhile, last night's meeting at the Richmond Club saw the vast majority of the audience vote to find out more about Supporters Direct. More on the story soon (when I get around to writing it up!).

Monday, May 06, 2002

Help the club and save money
Summer is traditionally a time of money shortages at Hereford United (is there a time that isn't!), so perhaps now is the best time to buy your season tickets. More...

Sunday, May 05, 2002

Turner interview on BBC
Read the BBC Hereford & Worcester interview with Hereford chairman Graham Turner. More...

Friday, May 03, 2002

Squad released
All of the Hereford United players who were out of contract at the end of the season have been released. More details soon.

Wednesday, May 01, 2002

Takeover latest
HU-FC.co.uk will endeavour to bring you the latest on the ongoing saga at Edgar Street, with news and information on the board's actions and team make-up over the next few days. Visit the Independent Hereford United Online Resource - www.HU-FC.co.uk.
Takeover bid confirmed
A supporters consortium has tabled a bid for Graham Turner's Hereford United shares.

Bulls chairman Turner confirmed that he received the offer, tabled by long standing supporter and BOLSA committee member Martin Watson.

BBC Hereford & Worcester report that the consortium has experience of aiding clubs in financial trouble, including Bournemouth and Chesterfield.

More to follow soon.
Three United Players in Wales Squad
Three Hereford United players have been included in the Welsh semi-professional squad for the upcoming Home Nations tournament.

Goalkeepers: Tony Roberts - Dagenham & Redbridge; Pat Mountain - Newport County.

Defenders: Lee Woodyatt - Chester City; Tony James - Hereford United; Neil O'Brien - Carmarthen Town; Gary Lloyd - Barry Town; Andrew York - Barry Town; Matthew Coupe - Forest Green Rovers.

Midfielders: Ricky Evans - Total Network Solutions; Mike Flynn - Barry Town; Tony Pring - Newport County; Nathan Davies - Newport County; Simon Davies - Bangor City; Paul Parry - Hereford United.

Forwards: Marc Lloyd-Williams - Bangor City; Gavin Williams - Hereford United; Mark Dickeson - Llanelli; Graham Evans - Caersws; Peter Smith - Telford United.

Meanwhile, HU-FC.co.uk will endeavour to bring you the latest on the ongoing saga at Edgar Street, with news and information on the board's actions and team make-up over the next few days. Visit the Independent Hereford United Online Resource - www.HU-FC.co.uk.