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After last night's Shareholders Meeting at Edgar Street, Hereford United chairman David Keyte spoke to BN about the financial problems at the club.
"We've been sticking fingers in the dyke and plugging holes,"said Keyte.
"The thing that has got to me is that the crowd has gone away.
"Our figures can't work when the crowd is at 1500/1600.
"Week after week we are going to fall by the wayside.
"When I came aboard two summers ago I thought we should be able to support 2500. We took 900 up to Crewe that first day."
As for the meeting.
"We've held the meeting, lots of facts and figures shared with the shareholders present," Keyte continued.
"The outcome of which is a pretty stark message that, for the first time, we started to be unable to meet our obligations of PAYE bills and the like.
"We can see that in the next month we will be unable to pay our wages.
"We have just one home fixture between now and December 1st and we've already reached a point which was the reason why I wrote to the shareholders that with the gates at 1600 even with two home games a month, we would be unable to pay the wages.
"We wish to share that with a wider range of shareholders to seek ideas as to how we can rectify the situation.
"It's very difficult for one person (DK) to put it right.
"I believe if we can share the problem we can break it down to more managable financial assistance."
Keyte went on to speak about how he wants to ensure there's plenty of off-pitch income.
"The outcome of which is a pretty stark message that, for the first time, we started to be unable to meet our obligations of PAYE bills and the like.
"We can see that in the next month we will be unable to pay our wages.
"We have just one home fixture between now and December 1st and we've already reached a point which was the reason why I wrote to the shareholders that with the gates at 1600 even with two home games a month, we would be unable to pay the wages.
"We wish to share that with a wider range of shareholders to seek ideas as to how we can rectify the situation.
"It's very difficult for one person (DK) to put it right.
"I believe if we can share the problem we can break it down to more managable financial assistance."
Keyte went on to speak about how he wants to ensure there's plenty of off-pitch income.
"Longer-term security is in and around the football but you need the football to be of a standard and we've been poor.
"Over
the years the gates plus the football league/premiership money paid the
wages and salaries and we were there last year. £700K and £400K paid
the wages and salaries.
"This
time because that £700K odd is £250K and because the crowd has gone
down, we are not able to pay the wages. If you bring it down to each
individual month you know if you don't have your fair share of matches,
you aren't going to pay the wages."
Returning to the immediate shortfall, Keyte said that if no-one comes forward to help then a visit from HM Customs and Revenue is likely.
"There is a real possibility that the HMRC will be knocking on the door. If that happens then there is a chance, on the football front, of a transfer embargo and ultimately a winding up process.
"The frustration is that we are not millions of pounds adrift and potentially we could go under for a relatively small amount of money."
Keyte was asked whether there would be another shareholders meeting shortly.
"The auditors are due in this month and we would expect the shareholders AGM by the end of November."
Keyte then revealed he had to prop up the club with a £16K loan last week but admitted he can't continue doing so.
"There is a figure you are prepared to put in but everybody has got their limits and I've gone past mine.
"But I'm the chairman and you feel that responsibility."
To sum up there's plenty of work for the directors to do in the next few days.
"We've got a few things from tonight's meeting we need to get on with.
"We need to look at fundraising through a new share issue but that will take time.
"The pressing issue is to find enough cash for the next six weeks."
Returning to the immediate shortfall, Keyte said that if no-one comes forward to help then a visit from HM Customs and Revenue is likely.
"There is a real possibility that the HMRC will be knocking on the door. If that happens then there is a chance, on the football front, of a transfer embargo and ultimately a winding up process.
"The frustration is that we are not millions of pounds adrift and potentially we could go under for a relatively small amount of money."
Keyte was asked whether there would be another shareholders meeting shortly.
"The auditors are due in this month and we would expect the shareholders AGM by the end of November."
Keyte then revealed he had to prop up the club with a £16K loan last week but admitted he can't continue doing so.
"There is a figure you are prepared to put in but everybody has got their limits and I've gone past mine.
"But I'm the chairman and you feel that responsibility."
To sum up there's plenty of work for the directors to do in the next few days.
"We've got a few things from tonight's meeting we need to get on with.
"We need to look at fundraising through a new share issue but that will take time.
"The pressing issue is to find enough cash for the next six weeks."