BN - There is talk of development of the Meadowend in conjunction with a residential structure. Can you throw some light on the plans and when are they likely to come to fruition?
DK – We have been in discussion with the Council for some time establishing what is and is not acceptable. The Council has been very supportive. Hereford Futures (ESG) has earmarked part of the area behind the Meadowend (the car park and adjacent land) for residential development. Our proposal is for a block of apartments on a slightly increased parcel of land that currently includes the existing terrace. The development will include a new higher capacity terrace that will be "squared of" to the pitch (unlike the present curved terrace).
Most developments have requirement to include a percentage of "affordable housing". We are hopeful that this part of the development can be included in another part of the overall Hereford Futures plan. We have to attend a meeting in June regarding the ratification of our ideas and we have already spoken to three interested developers, one of whom is well advanced with their plans. I'd like to think we would have made significant progress in eighteen months time.
BN - How confident are you of still being able to redevelop the Blackfriars end now we’ve drop out of The Football League (do we lose access to grant money)?
DK – We have a meeting on Monday that includes the grant body. This includes a proposal for the Blackfriars end and also at Aylestone for the Community Trust. So, yes, I'm still confident that we will get the Blackfriars done but it is still, as it always was, dependant on getting a business partner on board to provide some of the funding.
BN – Gary Peters, do you still feel he has a role to play at HUFC and do you value his experience and contacts?
DK – When we went to Dagenham, Gary stayed with family rather than at the team hotel. I had a long chat with Jamie (Pitman) who understood that our position in The League was precarious. He felt that if his future was in doubt that he wanted to be master of his own destiny. I therefore asked Gary to take a back seat to give Jamie the opportunity he wanted. Harry Pell and Featherstone came back into the side and Kenny was on the bench. We took three points that night.
Gary is still here and is paid by me. Yes, I do think he has a role to play and I value his experience. His knowledge of "how football works" in contract matters and his contacts in the game will be particularly helpful as we plan for the coming season.
BN - Are you confident that HUFC can remain financially viable without League funding?
DK – We have too. In the Football League, our financial restrictions were in the form of a 55% of turnover limit on player spending. This coming season, for the first time, The Conference is introducing a financial plan that means we have to, at least, break even. The big issue, of course, is the loss of the central funding. That will cost us £400,000. The task ahead is to convince the fans that our expectations for next season are viable and that we can maintain the level of support with the very necessary increase in admission prices. There are some excellent packages available in the Season Ticket offers and I would encourage fans to get on board as soon as possible to assist our planning.
BN - Has the temporary seating covered its cost/made a profit?
DK – I always felt it would and it has more or less done that. Obviously its use has varied during the season but the occasions it has been well used (like Torquay and Shrewsbury) have offset the times it has not been used by visitors. It also gave us the added benefit of being a “four-sided” stadium.
More later