Hereford FC held their AGM at Edgar Street this evening.
Chairman Ken Kinnersley and five of the six directors were present along with 15 shareholders and HUST representatives.
The chairman gave his annual report. He was thanked by HUST chairman Richard Tompkins.
Last year's AGM minutes were approved as were the annual accounts both without comments from those present.
Then the five resolutions from HUST were discussed. Richard Tomkins put forward the case for supporting them. He was asked if HUST's intention was to buy out the benefactors. He said it was not.
Two shareholders felt that HUST and HFC should work together as a partnership. Other shareholders were concerned about HUST raising more capital should a further share issue be required.
Another view was that HUST had willingly agreed to have three directors when the club was set up, why should they now ask for four.
Mention was made of the 50/50 draw that HUST operate on licence from HFC. This agreement is reviewed every year.
At this stage the voting took place with an accountant and solicitor in attendance to ensure the votes were correctly counted. All five resolutions needed 75% of the votes to be passed.
The first resolution which was to increase the number of HUST directors on the HFC from three to four board received 40.5% of the vote.
The second resolution which was conditional on the first one being passed and, in essence, was a simple word change also received 40.5% of the vote.
The third resolution which was to ensure that at least one director appointed by the ordinary shareholders and one director appointed by HUST were in attendance at a meeting of directors received 40.3% of the vote.
The fourth resolution was to change the requirement from ordinary to special (75% vote) should any resolution be proposed about changing the club's name or primary playing colours. This resolution received a vote of 97.89%.
The fifth resolution was that a special resolution would need to be passed should there be a proposal to relocate from Edgar Street. This also received a vote of 97.89%
That concluded the main business of the evening but a general question and answer session followed.
There had been some limited progress with the Blackfriars End of the ground in so much that meetings were held yesterday with a Herefordshire Council working group. The Council is trying to finalise commercial use for that end of the ground with student accomodation being a possibilty. An 800 seat stand was likely.
A question about grants for a new stand was mentioned with the chairman stating that over a period of times money would need to be spent on several sides of the ground and there was only so much grant money available.
The subject of the length of the current lease was discussed. It was stated that at present it was unlikely that the council would agree a longer lease (technical reasons) although that didn't mean they would not renew the lease.
Another concert is expected to take place at Edgar Street next May.
Despite the recent drop in gates, directors felt that this would not eat into capital.
The club doesn't receive any income from the mobile masts on the floodlight towers.
The main club building still has scaffolding around part of it after recent storm damage. Herefordshire Council has storm damage on the building and loss adjusters have been to see the damage.
Plans for the 3G pitch at Pegasus go before the Council next week. Hopefully most of the funding will come from the Football Foundation, but HFC may have to make a small contribution.