.png)
 |
| From left: Harry Pell, Aaron Downes and Chris Ammonds at the fans forum. Picture: Hereford FC's YouTube channel |
Hereford are due to announce the signing of a new winger on Monday.
Bulls manager Aaron Downes made the announcement at tonight's fans forum, saying that, as long as everything is agreed, the new playing will be coming on board.
Split in two halves, Downes - who was joined by assistant manager, Harry Pell and chairman Chris Ammonds - answered a range of questions from supporters.
He started by saying that he was really enjoying his time at the club, and is happy with the start the team has made - picking up 13 points from his opening six games. However, he did say he was not naive and there's still a long to go.
He said it was an honour to manage the club on Tuesday - the first league game at Edgar Street in nearly three months.
There were "good and bad elements" of the 5-1 win against Leamington, said Downes, but ultimately at this stage of the season, results and points are the most important thing.
Pell, meanwhile, said he never expected to be sitting here, or being a coach after literally finishing his career about two months ago.
But, Downes is his best mate (he was his best man at Pell's wedding), so when he asked him if he wanted to be his number two, Pell said he had to do it because it's a club he knows.
Downes said he is a big believer in going through certain emotions and challenges to hopefully make you better for it. He explained he spent 10 years at Torquay, and two at Cheltenham.
However, when he left the Robins, he felt he was ready to make the step up. The opportunity at Hereford then came along, and Downes felt it was the right time and he was ready. Downes said he knew a couple of the players he could bring in and make an impact.
Four principles
Downes explained he has four principles that are non-negotiable. He said on the day of the Darlington game (his first match in charge) he told the the players that was him, and if they couldn't do what was being asked of them, they won't play.
He said he could tell with their body language and attitude that 90% "have absolutely done it" and bought it into it. Downes said the players have run through brick walls, and that his heartening for him to say. Once you've got that, you can be build on it, said Downes.
Downes talks about loan players
Downes said the squad had a good nucleus, but needed a bit of legs, and that is what the young loan players have brought. He acknowledged that Cormac Daly and George Munday were at the club prior to his arrival - saying he could see something in Munday at the Southport game. He also knew Daly would cause problems - you just need to get the ball to him.
Mindset and mentality is so important for young players, said Downes, and he knew Freddie Willcox and Harry Tustin (on loan from Cheltenham) have that. He confirmed that the pair are on loan until the end of the season, but there is a call back option.
Downes said he is conscious of the amount of games the team have to play and has a plan for the next week which will see them play four times.
There is no call back option for Madou Cisse though, who has been at Hereford on loan from Hereford since the start of the season. He is is in constant contact with parent clubs to ensure the players are fresh when they play, and seeks a minimum of four opinions when trying to recruit players.
Pell not registering as a player
Pell was asked if he would register as a player. He said if he could, he would, and wanted to come back as a player following an horrendous run with injuries.
Pell went to Bath in National League South following a year out with an ACL injury, but got injured again after only two games, therefore he knew his time was up.
Looking ahead to next season
Ammonds said he was hugely impressed how things have started, but nothing has been achieved yet. He has had some conversations about starting to looking ahead next season, with Downes saying he has started thinking about pre-season, and the club need a plan whether he is there or not.
He said he wanted "value for money" for the home friendlies, as there is a risk of losing 5-0 to a big Football League team, meaning that nothing is learned.
There will be two, ideally three home games, with matches against Under-23 teams maybe being away so that relationships with clubs can be built. However, Downes said he won't disrupt his programme "to give someone a favour."
Ammonds said that Worcester City is one of the names the club is looking at. Hereford played two games at Sixways, although Sixways is a separate business, so the Bulls actually didn't work alongside Worcester.
Ammonds said it "didn't sit right with me for someone to just come in until the end of the season", adding that one or two candidates were on the list that he, thought "it's just going to be another job for them.
He said he spoke to Downes for the first time the day after the club lost 5-1 at Southport, and was very impressed with him.
"I got a sense other board members were on the same page. I genuinely hope that is what we've got," he said.
Talking about the off-field pitch problems, Ammonds said you can't can't pin all the blame on the floodlight installation company - three of areas were unconnected, which were drainage issues.
Ammonds admitted mistakes had been made, and the club has to make sure the end of season drainage work is done properly have a long-lasting impact. Playing three home games elsewhere has probably cost the club between £40,000 and £45,000, said Ammonds.
Training outside of Hereford
Training outside of Hereford in Studley, where Solihull Moors trained, was mentioned. Downes said that, while he was looking at making tweaks to the timings, it gives the club a more commutable location, and opens up a variety of locations to recruit.
There is a changing room, gym, training pitch, and analysis area - saying not many places do that.
Ammonds conceded that an in ideal word, the team would train in Hereford, but we are not an ideal world, and would probably have to pay players £200 a week more to come and use the Herefordshire roads.