Hereford FC chairman Ken Kinnersley has said that he thinks recruiting directors could become more difficult given the 'the level of commitment' required and also warned that potential directors might be put off by 'repeated criticism and abuse' that directors sometimes have to face after taking 'difficult' decisions.
In his annual report to shareholders in advance of the club's AGM, Kinnersley said he wanted to draw their attention to the 'potential for future difficulties in the recruitment of HFC Directors'.
His comments come after the decision to sack former manager Peter Beadle which hasn't gone down well with some supporters. However some of the abuse Kinnersley and other directors have received since that decision have been over the top to say the least.
Kinnersley may also have noticed how difficult HUST have found recruiting their directors. Currently there are five HUST directors and four empty seats.
Whilst HFC directors are 'unpaid volunteers', Kinnersley admits that it wasn't realised just how much time the job would take up.
"Directors are now experiencing repeated disruption of their paid employment," he said.
"Futhermore, with turnover now approaching £1M annually the time commitment has increased dramatically and will only continue to increase with additional but important projects due 'on stream' in the coming year."
He also mentions that directors are accountable for any health and safety issues, legislation affecting employers and businesses and FA Regulations.
"We have to contend with FA Regulations including specific 'spectator' related issues for which we have, all too regularly, been called to account."
However it is the difficult decisions that Directors sometimes have to take that Kinnersley appears most concerned about.
"In managing the long term interests of the business the Directors also have to address some very difficult and often contentious issues," he said.
"However, when the 'business' involves a following of loyal fans who have a strong emotional connection to the club, this presents a totally different element in comparison with managing a 'normal' business.
"Following 'difficult' decisions, directors regularly have to contend with what are often not just critical but personally offensive and abusive reaction and comments.
"Directors are subjected to repeated criticism and abuse on various forms of social media and more recently, 'face to face' and in public.
"This is, in part, generated by ignorance of the facts due to legal, confidentiality and/or privacy considerations that prevent explanation and justification for the decision. Thus uninformed 'opinions' of such decisions tend to be based on rumours, conjecture and assumptions.
"This form of behaviour and criticism also has a detrimental effect on close family members and friends.
"Whilst the recruitment of directors is not (yet) an immediate issue, it is reasonable to anticipate that a combination of these factors may well prove to be a considerable obstacle in seeking to recruit unpaid volunteers who possess the required skill sets for any of the defined roles."