Hereford FC travel east to
Northamptonshire this Saturday for (eeek) an away match! Kettering are the
hosts, and the Poppies seem to be in the process of getting their act together,
having recently appointed a new manager in Paul Cox, and having won three of
their last five matches. The club had been struggling after promotion in
2018/19, and obviously saw the need to act in an attempt to secure their place
in the National League North next season. They sit just a place and a point below
Hereford, but have played two games fewer.
So the home side go into this
one rejuvenated and full of confidence, although suspensions for two regular
starters is at least a plus for the visitors.
A single Jordan Nicholson goal
was enough for the Bulls to take the points at Edgar Street when these two met
in September, which now seems like an awfully long time ago. The gloom currently enveloping
the Hereford FC soap opera makes Eastenders look like Hong Kong Fooey. Last
Saturday’s ‘must win’, to quote the chairman, wasn’t. Rarely if ever has a draw
felt more like a loss. Russell Slade, concerningly, is starting to play players
out of position as his seemingly less and less scientific attempts at putting
an end to this awful run of form continue to bear rotten fruit. This approach
has historically a/ failed, and b/ signalled the imminent demise of the
increasingly desperate coach attempting it. However, a win on Saturday, as
unlikely as that seems given the Bulls’ singularly wretched form on the road (W 3 D 1 L 9),
would buy Slade a bit of time to maybe bring a loan player or two in to shore
things up and see off what is now a very real threat of relegation back to the
Southern League. It must be said though that he cuts an increasingly
disillusioned figure, and that can‘t be a good look in the dressing room when
he’s trying to motivate the players.
Rowan Liburd and Jacob Jagger
Cane return after being out on loan, and perhaps they’re feeling refreshed from
a change of scene outside the HFC goldfish bowl. A few goals from Liburd over
the course of the remainder of the season would certainly be warmly welcomed.
There’s still some uncertainty over whether Peter Vincenti and Stephen Dawson
will be back at the club this season, but in the latter case everyone will have
everything crossed that a deal can be done, perhaps with the carrot of a coaching
role thrown in to the offer.
With all hopes of a late rattle
into the final play-offs now extinguished, one is inclined to think that
the most likely outcome this season is a finish a couple of places and a
handful of points above second bottom. That’s assuming that the current general
trend of drawing at home and losing away every fortnight is improved upon,
because a 0.5 point a game average sees the Bulls finish on 37 points, which
wouldn’t be too clever.
With the focus now on the
bottom rather than the top of the table, any sort of improvement in results
will hasten the arrival at a points total that should ensure safety, which in
turn will allow the club to plan for how to get it right next season in the
NLN. Third time lucky, perhaps? The sooner that’s achieved, the longer the
board has to plan. A continuation of current form will allow no such luxury,
with contingency plans needed in terms of budget, squad size, player shopping
lists etc in anticipation of another season at least in the Southern League
Premier.
So, however unlikely, it would
be quite useful to win this one.
COYW