Keyte Backs Pitman

Despite calls for Jamie Pitman to quit as manager, Hereford United chairman David Keyte is continuing to support him.

In an interview on BBC Hereford and Worcester, Keyte was asked if he still supported his manager.

"Of course we can. We've played eight matches and, okay, anybody sitting in the stand or on the terraces would be foolish to say there aren't some tell-tale signs there that, you know, we're not competitive in many areas on the pitch. That is to be worked on.

"My understanding is that we still play 46 matches in a season and things are going to be put right."

The interviewer was Nathan Turvey and after playing a clip of Aldershot's two goals last night, he asked Keyte where was the defence.

"A very good point. We've got difficulties in defence. We've got two players out, three if you count the goal-keeper, who would make up that back five usually in Rob Purdie and Stefan Stam. We've been found out."

NT: "Are you concerned some fans are voting with their feet?"

DK: "You must win the majority of your home matches. That itself then encourages people to come out and support. So 1600 last night, it was a Tuesday night and the usual impact that has for lower clubs these days, not disputing the fact that there was an element voting with their feet. That is their prorogative. It's their hard earned money.

"But there is a circular effect to that - the lower the gates against the budget we've put in to the Football League for crowds of 2,500 as we had last year - 1600 leaves us a fair number of thousands of pounds short which unfortunatly means that new players are even further away from us financially."

NT: "How longer can you go on for with only having crowds of this number?"

DK "Financially?"

NT: "Yes."

DK: "That is not a problem financially but that would have to be covered. The club would make a loss, like many other clubs make losses, but there are other non-financial factors there about, sort of, negativity around the club won't help the players. Chants of 'what a load of rubbish' won't help the players etc but people on the terraces have the right to do that."

NT: "Do you think the crowds are being unfair then?"

DK: "No I don't, no I don't and nor does the manager. There's nobody wanting to get positive results anywhere, particularly home matches, there's nobody more wishing that than the manager and the management team and the board of directors. It would be foolish to think otherwise.

"It's a competition. There's an opposition in every match that want the ball and we've got to reach that same standard."

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