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Sunday, August 22, 2021

Gowling Remains Hopeful Of Adding To Squad


Watching Hereford play at Bradford yesterday it was noticable that the team remains short of a couple of players. In particular there remains a need for a striker and probably a defender as well.

Miles Storey slotted into Joey Butlin's spot but Storey doesn't look like an out and out striker.

Speaking after the game manager Josh Gowling was hopeful of adding to his squad.

"The window shuts in a couple of weeks and when that window shuts players will start filtering down," said Gowling.

"I think there are still some players out there who are waiting to see what comes up.

"I've spoken to a few players who have actually stopped playing which is bizarre. During lockdown some players have had time and have retrained or studied and looked at avenues outside football.

"And I think that's one of the reasons we're struggling a little bit to get players in. But we're looking all the time and hopefully we'll get something sorted in the next couple of weeks." 

Hereford's football budget isn't the biggest in the National North.

"We're trying to do initiatives to raise extra funds for the clubs, ideally people will get behind that.

"We had Covid last year, the club got hit commercially, I thing that was the biggest thing, so we end up having similar (Budget) to last year.

"I know Covid is still here but I think the season has gone normal again. Players all of a sudden want extra wages. Now when they want that all of a sudden the difference in the budget it shows.

"We've got a good squad, we'll keep advancing.

"I can't worry about the budget, I've got to do the best job for the club and the fans."

Gowling admitted that it had been a slow start much as last season.

"We've built a good squad and we've just got to keep developing.

"Last year we were a slow burner at the start of the year and we got better as the weeks went on and I think we've been a bit of a slow burner at start with now to be honest.

"But what I would say is that we are creating a lot more chances than we were last year. The performances will come. 

"I just want people to get back behind us, supporting us, keep pushing the lads on and we'll get there."

It was put to Gowling that Bradford PA on a gate of 400 can put a reasonable team out.  Hereford's got 2000 going to games and yet the budget doesn't appear any greater.

"What you have to understand is is the size of our football club.

"Now if you are recruiting a player at Bradford, no disrepect, they are not going to expect the world are they?

"So they come to Hereford and they expect the world. Let's be honest about it we're a big football club.

"I've always said we are a project. The type of players we want are players who can take us to the next level. So that takes time, that takes money, that takes players who want a bit extra.

"The reality is, I've been a player and you look at Hereford and you look at Bradford, I'm coming to Hereford and the manager wants me I'm going to want more money. It's Hereford football club. They get 2000 fans each week, it's a big football club, they are going to want more and that's the reality of it.

"I understand it, I've been there as a player and when you go to big clubs you want more money.

"But the reality is that our budget is what it is and we've got to be stringent with it and we've got to get the right bodies in.

"It's going to take time so we've just got to wait, be patience and hopefully the players will come."