An update from Volunteer Co-ordinator Ken Kinnersley:
We are sure all our willing volunteers will have been keeping up to date with events at HFC, and specifically the state of the stadium, through the various twitter feeds, web sites as well as radio interviews and reports.
Apologies for not being in touch again sooner, however, as you will know season tickets sales have taken off and that's required quite a lot of time and work. It has been rewarding to meet some of our volunteers who have popped in to buy tickets and uplifting to see so many coming into the club with big smiling faces some even bearing gifts such as coffees, sweets and chocolates as well as generous donations for HUST and HFC.
Be assured the income from the sale of tickets is not the principal reason for starting ticket sales; it is principally for the “concrete” evidence of the level of support your season ticket purchases provide when we are making a bid to the FA for a place in the league pyramid. As we are sure you will also know sales to date have been very encouraging at over 400 so we are very pleased! If you know anyone who is contemplating a purchase do encourage them to come along sooner rather than later.
Now, to the unavoidable delay in starting the clear-up which is what you really want to know about. The delay is, sadly, necessary, but we hasten to point out that it is not the fault of anyone just an unfortunate set of circumstances.
There are electrical and other issues in parts of the stadium that present a real danger and as a result we are only able to gain access to a very limited area – the main entrance from where season tickets are currently on sale. It could take a further 4 to 6 weeks for these works to be completed.
However, it just may be possible to start “cleaning up” the rubbish around the outside of the stadium in the not too distant future and we are awaiting a decision from our public liability insurers with regard to cover for our volunteers. However, inside the stadium must wait until the works have been completed. There is little point in cleaning up if the trades are then going to be working in areas we have already cleaned.
We are as disappointed as you at this delay but it was only when testing was conducted at the time of reaching a verbal agreement on the leases that the problems were identified. Also the delay has to be seen in the light of where we are today compared to the situation 5 months ago – and we would much rather be here than there! We are convinced that you will all feel the same!
Please do not think that your willingness to help is not appreciated. All at Hereford FC are very well aware of the responsibility that is going to fall on our volunteers shoulders and that only your continuing commitment will ensure the long term success of Hereford FC.