The following is a press release:
Speaking this afternoon, Jon Hale – who is one of a
group of local businessman who have put together a plan with Hereford United
Supporters Trust (HUST) to launch a phoenix club to play at Edgar Street – has
given an update on the current situation having spoken to Herefordshire Council
Leader Tony Johnson on the phone this morning.
“I chatted at length with Mr Johnson this morning
and it was pleasing to get another chance to reiterate quite how serious we are
about our business plan and explain that we feel our group, all lifelong Hereford
United supporters, working alongside the Hereford United Supporters Trust
(HUST), will be able to provide football fans in the city - and the wider
community - with the type of club they deserve.
“We completely understand that the council have to
carry out ‘due process’ when it comes to reassigning the leases to a new tenant
at Edgar Street, but I believe our plan offers the council a realistic and
thoroughly professional option moving forward. Our proposal for Herefordshire
Council to have responsibility for development of the two ends forms part of
the plan we have presented.
“While respecting the council’s position, we have
emphasised the need to try to get things sorted as quickly as possible as any
phoenix club needs to be entered into a league by the end of March.
“With that in mind I have been in contact with the
Herefordshire Football Association this morning and have submitted affiliation
forms with the proposed club name, Hereford Football Club, to ensure it is
registered for use. As a group we felt this was the most sensible name to go
with – a choice we shared with the HUST Chairman and Vice Chairman - especially
as we have been able to secure the website domain name and social media
accounts to match it.
“The next step for our group will be to meet the
council early in the New Year to talk in more detail about the leases and also discuss
how we go about negotiating for them.
“As soon as
the time is right we will share the content of our business plan with a wider
audience, but while the legal situation with the leases is still ongoing we
feel it is a little too early to release more detail.
“However, I would like to reassure people that if
positive progress continues to be made, we will be looking at as many ways as
possible to share the plan and also give people the opportunity to ask
questions, raise concerns or offer their own observations.
“After all that has gone on during the past few
months, we completely understand the need to be open and transparent to try to
rebuild the confidence and trust that has been sadly lacking in recent times. We
would just ask supporters to be patient and bear with us whilst we discuss the
situation with both the FA and Herefordshire Council.”