Continuing our look back to December 2014, Hereford United has been wound up and Jon Hale's Business Group are hopeful of restarting the club.
Hale Group Plans For HUST To Be Single Largest Shareholder
This from the Jon Hale group:
Update From Business Group After Latest Meeting
On Monday 22nd December, the
Chairman and Vice Chairman of Hereford United Supporters Trust, (HUST),
and the business group made up of lifelong Hereford United supporters,
held a lengthy meeting to discuss plans for the future of the phoenix
club they are aiming to form to play at Edgar Street.
Jon Hale, who is leading the
business group, has given the following update on the meeting and,
although at this stage the full business plan cannot be released because
some key information is not yet available, he has given additional
details about some of the content. Mr Hale said:
“Monday’s meeting was hugely
productive and we were able to start more serious discussions about how
our plan for a phoenix club should progress. Although we understand we
still have much work to do to secure a deal to occupy Edgar Street, we
feel we cannot stand still while Herefordshire Council carry out the
‘due process’ necessary in terms of reassigning the leases.
“We are delighted with the
response and interest from supporters about the formation of Hereford
Football Club and its affiliation with the Herefordshire Football
Association on Monday morning.
“I acknowledge that in an
ideal world we would have consulted with fans on this name, but we felt
we needed to make this one, specific decision very quickly to aid our
negotiations with the local authority, as affiliation to the FA has
always been a condition of the leases.
“Moving forward to the next
stage, it has been agreed that HUST will liaise with their membership
over the choice of playing strip and club badge, and I’m sure members
can expect to hear from the HUST Board after the holiday period.
“We are aware important, valid
questions are already being raised about Hereford FC. We will provide
answers when we can, but at the present time it is impossible to answer
many of the questions accurately as there are a number of variables that
are yet to be determined.
“For example, in light of
recent events at Edgar Street, the obvious decline of our historic
stadium and the apparent absence of proper maintenance which could lead
to possible implications as a result of the appointment of an official
receiver, we have requested permission from Herefordshire Council to
undertake a thorough and comprehensive stadium survey with them as soon
as is practicable.
“This will ensure that all
parties have a full understanding of what will be required capital wise
to bring the stadium up to a “fit for purpose” status, which would then
permit our proposed business plan to achieve its potential.
“In terms of the ownership
structure and the exact percentage for the new club, at the present time
– due the variables mentioned earlier - these cannot be determined.
However, in an attempt to allay some understandable fears, we can
confirm that in our plan HUST – as an organisation representing a huge
number of fans – have the opportunity and time to become the largest
single shareholder, subject to fund-raising, in the club and that no
other individual or corporate benefactor will be able to own more than
24%.
“Supporters will also have an
opportunity to donate towards the formation of the new club and further
details will be announced in the New Year. Each individual willing to
donate will no doubt have a preferred way of doing so and therefore this
needs further discussion to ensure various options are available.
“Finally, in addition to
wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, I’d like to make a personal,
direct appeal to the many people who are already taking an interest in
Hereford Football Club.
“The group of businessmen that
has worked hard to put this proposal together is made up of genuine,
lifelong Hereford United fans who have felt the pain of recent months as
much as all other supporters.
“We completely understand why
many fans are suspicious and wary about almost everything right now, but
I would ask that you form your opinions about our plans based on the
way we go about things and not on the actions of the final ownership
regimes at Hereford United Football Club.
“Our plan is by Hereford fans
for Hereford fans, and we believe the collaboration of experienced
business people and the passion and spirit of all Hereford United
supporters offers the best possible chance of achieving on-field success
and ensuring the city of Hereford regains the footballing status it
deserves.”