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This article penned by 'Skeets' first appeared in Talking Bull Issue 62, Christmas 1998 at a time when Hereford United was in deep trouble both on and off the pitch.
The last 2½ seasons have been the most
appalling and depressing time in which to follow HUFC. The shenanigans
and financial mis-management of the 'Peter Hill Years' are still being
felt almost daily at the club. It appears that hardly a week goes by
before another previous debt or contractual agreement (which cannot be
broken) hits the club. Hardly surprising then that these financial
constraints have left a team on the pitch which has been described as a
bunch of "has beens, never weres or maybes".
The majority view of the clubs' supporters seems to be for GT to totally relinquish any influence over playing matters. GT is endeavouring to cover the whole range of duties from business developments, financial control, administration to team selection and tactics (assuming we've got some). GT must listen to the clubs' supporters on this. If the club is to survive in the short term, relocate, rebuild business relationships, stabilise finances before strengthening facilities and the playing squad he must step down as manager. Give the job (totally) to Keith Downing and state this fact publicly. Perhaps even a statement to United's fans through a HUISA newsletter and Talking Bull.
If Downing is already in total control and is failing in that task, GT must take some tough and nasty decisions. He must face up to the fact that he is Chairman and if he feels the need to sack Downing then so be it. Despite a long term friendship he ought to take a leaf out of one of his previous Chairman's books and do a "deadly Doug", the truth probably is that we cannot afford to replace Downing with a manager, player manager or even a player coach.
The sale of Richard Walker and Gavin Mahon must come as no surprise to most fans. The club's budget this season was based on three major decisions:
- Average home attendances of 2,500.
- Income from cups would match that of last season.
- A minimum of £50,000 in transfer fees would be received from the sale of players.
My own personal view is that the club must return back to its community roots. We are a non league team with a mountain of debts. The only future left is to wipe out the debt and move. The club must survive in some form or other. As supporters we cannot and must not be ignored by both the club and the community at large. Herefordshire needs sporting facilities and an ambitious semi-professional football club that wishes to regain it professional status in the football league.
It may have to get a lot worse yet. We may need to "do a Halifax", decimate the wage bill to ridiculously low levels and encourage local players in and accept mediocrity for a number of seasons in the Conference and build a solid platform from which to restart in a new stadium. The painful truth is that the Peter Hill Years have seen HUFC virtually wiped out. Only supporters can realistically keep the dream alive. GT must involve supporters to a greater extent. The steering and liaison committees are a good first step with HUISA's support. However, despite the HUISA vote against a supporter on the board, I don't feel that the issue will go away. Perhaps what is needed in the interim is for the club to specifically relinquish responsibility for certain matters to supporters.
As a non league club the future will depend on volunteers. Former US president John F Kennedy should have once said "think not what Hereford United can do for you. Think what you can do for Hereford United."
GT and the present board must stop the downward spiral, start taking supporters seriously, negotiate a ground move as soon as possible and rebuild an ambitious, forward thinking football club. We can only do this with a Chairman who is devoting the whole of his time to Hereford United Football Club's survival. GT must relinquish his control over the playing duties as a first step, but will he listen to us?