Former Hereford United managing director Robin Fry says the club came close to moving to a new ground south of the city in 1997 and a supermarket being built on Edgar Street.
Plans were being put together to buy the freehold for Edgar Street from Herefordshire Council and then create a sporting hub in Grafton where there would be a number of clubs involved.
“For many years, it was always talked about wanting to move away from Edgar Street,” said Fry.
“Especially after the cattle market and the talk of development. I was always told there was a restricted covenant, and it was confirmed by solicitors.
“The restricted covenant was actually the lease, so I spoke to Peter Heard who at that time was the owner of Colchester United.”
Heard gave Fry the contact details of solicitors in Bristol who specialised in property and the two parties spoke.
He added: “I went across there, showed them the lease and they said ‘yes, you’re totally right, it’s a restricted covenant lease but the freehold is okay’.
“I asked what it meant it simplistic terms, and if you hold a freehold, there’s no restricted covenant. That turned it all upside down.
“We made presentations, Peter Heard came down with people from London to the council and we looked to purchase the freehold from the council.
“Once we purchased the freehold there was no restricted covenant. At the time, Tesco were talking £12million to buy the land.”
Fry said the council valued the freehold at £1.5million and he had plans to go forward, but other clubs didn’t co-operate.
“If we could get this money in, why don’t we put together a management company to run a multipurpose complex with a football club, rugby club, cricket club - everything in Herefordshire can play together.
“We can all participate in the management company and each sporting body would pay into that and use the facilities.
“But it was just lie hitting your head against a brick wall - so negative and they could’ve made all the difference."
Plans were being put together to buy the freehold for Edgar Street from Herefordshire Council and then create a sporting hub in Grafton where there would be a number of clubs involved.
“For many years, it was always talked about wanting to move away from Edgar Street,” said Fry.
“Especially after the cattle market and the talk of development. I was always told there was a restricted covenant, and it was confirmed by solicitors.
“The restricted covenant was actually the lease, so I spoke to Peter Heard who at that time was the owner of Colchester United.”
Heard gave Fry the contact details of solicitors in Bristol who specialised in property and the two parties spoke.
He added: “I went across there, showed them the lease and they said ‘yes, you’re totally right, it’s a restricted covenant lease but the freehold is okay’.
“I asked what it meant it simplistic terms, and if you hold a freehold, there’s no restricted covenant. That turned it all upside down.
“We made presentations, Peter Heard came down with people from London to the council and we looked to purchase the freehold from the council.
“Once we purchased the freehold there was no restricted covenant. At the time, Tesco were talking £12million to buy the land.”
Fry said the council valued the freehold at £1.5million and he had plans to go forward, but other clubs didn’t co-operate.
“If we could get this money in, why don’t we put together a management company to run a multipurpose complex with a football club, rugby club, cricket club - everything in Herefordshire can play together.
“We can all participate in the management company and each sporting body would pay into that and use the facilities.
“But it was just lie hitting your head against a brick wall - so negative and they could’ve made all the difference."
The full interview including Robin's thought's on the current situation at Hereford FC can be heard below.
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