June 1998 saw changes at Hereford United with Graham Turner taking over as chairman from Peter Hill.
Hill became a director in 1972 and was appointed chairman in 1976.
He announced he would stand down at the club's AGM but failed to turn up for the meeting.
Below are a couple of reports from that time. First from HUISA.
FOLLOWING a sensational AGM of Hereford United FC on the evening of 29th
June, all current directors stood down and were replaced by Graham
Turner and three new directors reports HUISA. The shares transfer from Hill
to Turner was made by a legally binding document to be timed at the
close of the AGM.
HUISA broke the news to the county the following morning at 8.50am when our chairman, Richard Tomkins, was interviewed live on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester in Trevor Owens' breakfast programme.
A very well attended AGM comprising of over 50 shareholders was conducted at times in a 'heated' atmosphere, concentrating on the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement made with the BS Group. The accounts covered the period to the end of May 1997, during which time the JVA was made. The meeting was chaired by David Vaughan in the absence of Peter Hill who was on 'holiday' again. Hill's failure to attend the meeting was met with derision and a series of complaints from the floor of the meeting. This left shareholders in no doubt that Hill was hiding away from his critics and was leaving the rump of his board behind to answer for his actions. Vaughan was therefore subjected to a catalogue of questions relating to the operation of the Football Club and the manner in which former managing director Robin Fry had appeared to have been paid off following the receipt of the original BS Group loan. A fierce debate ensued surrounding the conduct of the directors over the handling of the 'gift' of the Edgar Street lease to the BS Group. During this questioning David Vaughan and Jane Simmons confirmed that they were 'retiring' from the board. Confirmation was also received that Keith Benjamin had resigned from his 'role' as Associate Director the previous November.
Analysis of the accounts revealed that Robin Fry's company was paid £34,412 for consultancy fees' for the year ended 31st May 1997. and that an Edinburgh based consultants (Intervec) were also paid £30,000 for consultancy fees' connected to the proposed relocation of HUFC. The accounts also confirmed HUISA's fears that the leases on Edgar Street expire on 10 August 2015 and 12 August 2057 but that the original BS Group loan of £500,000 plus accrued interest remains repayable on 31 May 1999. The second loan of £500,000 is interest free, repayable on 19th May 2003. Despite all of the objections before the meeting closed Vaughan even had the temerity to state that he was 'satisfied' with his own personal record as a director of Hereford United FC and that of the rest of the Board!
GT stated on the night that his new directors are, Sam Lodh (Solicitor, and HUISA confidante), Tristram Richmond-Sterry (Solicitor, and HUISA member) and Joan Fennessy (Club Secretary). George Hyde was invited to join the board by GT after the AGM and Ron Jukes (Club Scout) also joined a fortnight later.
HUISA broke the news to the county the following morning at 8.50am when our chairman, Richard Tomkins, was interviewed live on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester in Trevor Owens' breakfast programme.
A very well attended AGM comprising of over 50 shareholders was conducted at times in a 'heated' atmosphere, concentrating on the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement made with the BS Group. The accounts covered the period to the end of May 1997, during which time the JVA was made. The meeting was chaired by David Vaughan in the absence of Peter Hill who was on 'holiday' again. Hill's failure to attend the meeting was met with derision and a series of complaints from the floor of the meeting. This left shareholders in no doubt that Hill was hiding away from his critics and was leaving the rump of his board behind to answer for his actions. Vaughan was therefore subjected to a catalogue of questions relating to the operation of the Football Club and the manner in which former managing director Robin Fry had appeared to have been paid off following the receipt of the original BS Group loan. A fierce debate ensued surrounding the conduct of the directors over the handling of the 'gift' of the Edgar Street lease to the BS Group. During this questioning David Vaughan and Jane Simmons confirmed that they were 'retiring' from the board. Confirmation was also received that Keith Benjamin had resigned from his 'role' as Associate Director the previous November.
Analysis of the accounts revealed that Robin Fry's company was paid £34,412 for consultancy fees' for the year ended 31st May 1997. and that an Edinburgh based consultants (Intervec) were also paid £30,000 for consultancy fees' connected to the proposed relocation of HUFC. The accounts also confirmed HUISA's fears that the leases on Edgar Street expire on 10 August 2015 and 12 August 2057 but that the original BS Group loan of £500,000 plus accrued interest remains repayable on 31 May 1999. The second loan of £500,000 is interest free, repayable on 19th May 2003. Despite all of the objections before the meeting closed Vaughan even had the temerity to state that he was 'satisfied' with his own personal record as a director of Hereford United FC and that of the rest of the Board!
GT stated on the night that his new directors are, Sam Lodh (Solicitor, and HUISA confidante), Tristram Richmond-Sterry (Solicitor, and HUISA member) and Joan Fennessy (Club Secretary). George Hyde was invited to join the board by GT after the AGM and Ron Jukes (Club Scout) also joined a fortnight later.
The second article was written for Talking Bull.
Monday 29th June 1998 was a momentous day. A day which will surely be
recorded in the annals of Hereford United Football Club. At last here
was an AGM where the long suffering supporters and shareholders finally
got rid of the discredited Board - totally and absolutely.
The 'Peter Hill Years" have been a disaster. A fiasco where the club has been brought to its knees whilst the architects of the policy have continued with their exploitation via the 'Gentleman's Drinking Club' in the Boardroom. We've all had to endure the 'Cold War' years where information was more easily obtained from the Kremlin than Edgar Street. The SOS 'Save our Soccer' campaign of 1982 ensured the clubs immediate survival but did Peter Hill & Co learn any lessons from that shambolic era? Many local supporters and businesses lost out then - many felt forced into accepting a raw deal. Goodwill has been eroded dramatically and in some cases killed off altogether. Many, many businesses and people close to the club have been abused - then cast aside without a care - the majority never to return with further sponsorship or even to the terraces.
Eventually following concerted pressure from the 'hard core' of supporters some information was forthcoming and the total financial mis-management was revealed. However, Hill & Co continue on until debts exceed a million pounds. The 'Newman Era' and the 'Bowyer Legacy' of talent were both allowed to evaporate, the Peacock cash injection was wasted not once - but twice. Wild swings in management styles and costs are brought in and then discarded, often with calamitous results - and court cases aplenty! Despite numerous attempts to shame the Board into action and resignation with virtual unanimous 'Votes of No Confidence', the apathy and abdication of duties by the Chairman had reached new heights with the appointment of 'minder' M D Robin Fry!
This era of frustration, sadness and anger built until the massive implosion. Edgar Street is allowed to decay still further. The supporters are increasingly alienated as a result of the arson attack on the Sportsmans Bar whilst insufficiently insured. The lack of expertise in running the club shop escalates and the general marketing of the club becomes a sick joke with Pulling and then Simmons at the helm. Hill tried to prop up his position still further with the 'appointment' of a Fans' Associate Director on the board who quickly follows the Hill role model by abdicating his responsibilities. Benjy first stops liaising with the majority fans and eventually fails to represent them, almost becoming a 'Hill' clone. So, yet another opportunity is wasted and a potential channel of communication lost. Next is the ultimate nightmare of relegation from the Football League. Shareholders and supporters are not consulted regarding the 'gift' of the remaining Edgar Street asset - the lease on the ground - which is handed over to the BS Group, not for money but to obtain a £500,000 loan!
Fry resigns but won't go until he receives his 'pay off'. Last seasons deplorable scenes where even the club's own staff go for weeks without pay - and no explanation - is the final straw. Eventually comes judgement day. The AGM. The putrid, decomposed, acrid stench of Peter Hill and his fellow Board of Directors will no longer waft skywards from Edgar Street. Vive l'empereur Turner!
A brief period of exultation followed before the grim reality of the club's perilous state re-established its firm grip on the mind. Where do we go from here? We must go back to our community roots. Supporters must take some ownership, responsibility and authority of running the club through owning a significant shareholding in HUFC and boardroom representation. We as supporters must have a voice and be accountable for our own decisions.
GT are you listening?
(This article was first published by BN in July 2013)
The 'Peter Hill Years" have been a disaster. A fiasco where the club has been brought to its knees whilst the architects of the policy have continued with their exploitation via the 'Gentleman's Drinking Club' in the Boardroom. We've all had to endure the 'Cold War' years where information was more easily obtained from the Kremlin than Edgar Street. The SOS 'Save our Soccer' campaign of 1982 ensured the clubs immediate survival but did Peter Hill & Co learn any lessons from that shambolic era? Many local supporters and businesses lost out then - many felt forced into accepting a raw deal. Goodwill has been eroded dramatically and in some cases killed off altogether. Many, many businesses and people close to the club have been abused - then cast aside without a care - the majority never to return with further sponsorship or even to the terraces.
Eventually following concerted pressure from the 'hard core' of supporters some information was forthcoming and the total financial mis-management was revealed. However, Hill & Co continue on until debts exceed a million pounds. The 'Newman Era' and the 'Bowyer Legacy' of talent were both allowed to evaporate, the Peacock cash injection was wasted not once - but twice. Wild swings in management styles and costs are brought in and then discarded, often with calamitous results - and court cases aplenty! Despite numerous attempts to shame the Board into action and resignation with virtual unanimous 'Votes of No Confidence', the apathy and abdication of duties by the Chairman had reached new heights with the appointment of 'minder' M D Robin Fry!
This era of frustration, sadness and anger built until the massive implosion. Edgar Street is allowed to decay still further. The supporters are increasingly alienated as a result of the arson attack on the Sportsmans Bar whilst insufficiently insured. The lack of expertise in running the club shop escalates and the general marketing of the club becomes a sick joke with Pulling and then Simmons at the helm. Hill tried to prop up his position still further with the 'appointment' of a Fans' Associate Director on the board who quickly follows the Hill role model by abdicating his responsibilities. Benjy first stops liaising with the majority fans and eventually fails to represent them, almost becoming a 'Hill' clone. So, yet another opportunity is wasted and a potential channel of communication lost. Next is the ultimate nightmare of relegation from the Football League. Shareholders and supporters are not consulted regarding the 'gift' of the remaining Edgar Street asset - the lease on the ground - which is handed over to the BS Group, not for money but to obtain a £500,000 loan!
Fry resigns but won't go until he receives his 'pay off'. Last seasons deplorable scenes where even the club's own staff go for weeks without pay - and no explanation - is the final straw. Eventually comes judgement day. The AGM. The putrid, decomposed, acrid stench of Peter Hill and his fellow Board of Directors will no longer waft skywards from Edgar Street. Vive l'empereur Turner!
A brief period of exultation followed before the grim reality of the club's perilous state re-established its firm grip on the mind. Where do we go from here? We must go back to our community roots. Supporters must take some ownership, responsibility and authority of running the club through owning a significant shareholding in HUFC and boardroom representation. We as supporters must have a voice and be accountable for our own decisions.
GT are you listening?
(This article was first published by BN in July 2013)