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Next Game: Pre-Season

Monday, August 26, 2019

We Must Get This Appointment Right Said Graham

Hereford Chairman Andrew Graham
Trevor Owens, head of sport at BBC Hereford and Worcester, interviewed Andrew Graham, chairman of Hereford FC recently. Part of that interview was about selecting a person to take over from Marc Richards.

Owens said to Graham that given this will be their third manager or head coach in the past twelve months they have to get this appointment right.

"100%," said Graham.

"It's important we know exactly what we want and what we need is a different personality.

"We need someone that is able to convey their feelings and their passion from the touchline to the players.

"We need someone who will be able to transfer their tactics from the training sessions onto the pitch in the shape of performances.

"And we are going to need a type of character who can form the right type of bond with the people who are paying to watch the football.

"That said, if we look at Marc Richards as a person, a very intelligent person, a very friendly person, very very personable.

"I think he got off to an unjustified start in respect of relationships with some factions of the support and I would like to see that change.

"I'd like to see our support get behind what we are trying to do.

"I've said this before in my interviews, it's very very difficult if people want to pull in different directions for whatever reasons.

"Now I would set aside any agenda as a football fan for the prospects of the club I supported and I would like to suggest to all of the Hereford fans that despite their personal feelings or grievances with individuals that they actually get behind the badge and think this is how it is at the moment.

"Support the team, the management team, even if they don't get on with them personally.

"I'd like to see us pulling in the same direction."

Do you except that Marc Richards was on the original hiding to nothing coming in after the very successful Pete Beadle?

"I can't deny that.

"What I can say is that if people took the time to talk to Marc Richards he has interacted with fans, I've seen him interact. He's quite a personal character, great sense of humour.

"I think he was on a bit of a hiding to nothing in that respect."

Will the next manager need experience at this level?

"I think what we need to do is look at all the applicants, look at their skill levels, their history, personalities, but also their ability to motivate the players and turn something into something special.

"But there needs to be an acceptance from us that it will take a certain type of character to also form a bond with the fans.

"It's important that our fans feel they are being entertained, it's important that our fans who travel in incredible numbers proportionally for the size of the club at this level, or any level in fairness, that when they travel away from home they feel they've been entertained and they feel that what's on the pitch is as passionate about the badge as what's around the pitch, if that makes sense.

"So we all know what needs to happen and what needs to be in the managers seat and I can assure you we won't get that wrong."