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Next Game: Pre-Season

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Richards Has More Work To Do Than He Thought


Hereford Head Coach Marc Richards spoke to the media after this afternoon's game which Boston won 2-0.

"It was really frustrating to end the season like that," said Richards.

"Flat game, flat performance.

"We actually created quite a few chances but didn't take any of them. The difference was two set-pieces in the end in terms of the corner for them and the wide free kick which they got the penalty from them.

"A really disappointing way to end the season.

"We've created chances but we haven't done what we have been doing over the last 25/30 games in terms of putting in the performance levels that allows us to play on the front foot.

"Everything we wanted to do today we haven't done and it's frustrating.

"It's been tough but over a longer period of time they've done consistantly quite well and it's just these last few maybe they have not really done well.

"We want to entertain them (the supporters) and a lot of the conversation and prep going into today was that we wanted to put on a performance and be on the front foot and pro-active to try and entertain.

"There were difficult conditions today, the swerling wind was awful but no excuses we were not good enough today simple as. I'm really disappointed at the moment."

Asked by Keith Hall if he was surprised that some of players not under contract didn't necessarily put a shift in, Richards said he didn't think that came into play. 

"It's nothing to do with the performance today, they were a bit flat and we were flat across the whole team whether contracted players for next season or non-contracted players.

"That doesn't come into play at all It was just frustrating that we didn't get to the levels where we have been."

As regards deciding about contracts Richards said it something you do over over a long period of time and seeing as much as you can.

"To be honest, at the moment it's pretty raw and I'm just thinking look we've got a bit of work to do or maybe more work than what we thought in the off-season.

"We know that we need to put a squad together that can be in the top-end of this league and, at the moment on today's showing, we won't.

"So we need to ensure we've got a squad that can compete in that sort of top ten."

Will you have the budget to compete right at the top next year?

"Yes, I'm confident we will have a competitive budget

"We will identify players that can play at this level and higher so in terms of our recruitment it's trying to bring in players that can be at the top end of this division.

"If they can play at the top end of this division, then we should be confident they can compete at a higher level as well."

Richards was asked when we would release his retained list.

"I haven't decided that as of yet so I can't give you a date at the moment."

What's the criteria?

"Players that are good enough to play at this level and higher, simple as.

"You caught me at a bit of a tough time really. We've been good over 25/30 games if you look at it in terms of a longer period of time, it's just today has really really frustrated me. So at the moment no date on that."

Richards was asked why he took Eliot Richards off during the second half.

"Let me just explain.

"Three enforced subs, all injuries.

"Simo and Jak injuried at half time. Eliot was struggling to carry on and he tried to carry on, I thought he was our best player today.

"I thought he was our best player at Altrincham as well, again an enforced change.

"So probably really important to put it out there that it wasn't I thought he wasn't playing well, I thought he was our best player and I agreed, I was clapping,  when he got the man of the match award because he throughly deserved it

"I just wish he could have stayed on the pitch but it was also at this stage of the season do I risk him tearing his hamstring and then him being out for three months

"So it's probably important to say they were all three enforced changes today."