After the euphoria of last weekend, Hereford United will start preparations for life in League One this morning. There will be plenty to do.
Whilst the capacity of Edgar Street will not change until wholesale improvements are made to both the Meadow End and the Blackfriars End, some refurbishment of both the refreshment and toilet facilties is urgently required.
Home support is expected to increase this coming season especially with the relaunched Junior Bulls and no increase in season ticket prices. The average attendance the season just ended was 3421 which was up 2.8% on last season or put another way 93 extra at each game. In that total some 3120 were deemed to be home supporters.
However a bigger increase in numbers could come from visitors to the ground. And it is their facilities in particular that need improvements.
Whilst there will be no local derby against Shrewsbury, always assuming the sides do not meet in a cup competition, promotion will brings games against Bristol Rovers, Walsall, Cheltenham, Yeovil and Swindon. All five would be expected to bring good followings with them.
As well as 'local' clubs coming to Edgar Street, 'big' clubs like Leicester might bring up to 1500 supporters with them.
The average away League following at Hereford this season was just 301, the lowest in the division. Next season it should at least double to 600. That's about an extra £75,000 in gate income which can be increased further with extra money from catering (assuming the caterers remain the same the franchise fee should increase to reflect League One status) and programme sales.
The problem Graham Turner and his fellow directors face is whether to spend the club's money on improvements or hope that the Carillion Richardson Partnership come up with definite plans for at least the Blackfriars End as soon as possible.
However when asked about possible progress with redevelopment Simon Eastwood of Carillion wouldn't be drawn.
"We continue to work with the club and the local authority to examine options for development in the area in the context of the local authority's emerging plans for the Edgar Street Grid," Eastwood told Bulls News.
Although the club owes Formsole (the Carillion/Richardson company) just over £1 million it has around £1 million in the bank at present, so it could easily fund some improvements.
Turner may, reluctantly, decide it is better to wait for the Richardsons to do a proper job as opposed to peacemeal improvements which may soon become surplus to requirements.
If it hasn't already been done perhaps Turner should invite all those councillors who attended the reception at the Town Hall on Sunday to look around Edgar Street.
Nothing like striking while the iron is hot.
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Scarborough In The League At Edgar Street On Tuesday 19th November At 7.45pm