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Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm

Monday, January 16, 2023

Have Hereford's Finances Turned The Corner?

During Saturday's BBC Hereford and Worcester's Sport on Saturday programme presenter Trevor Owens and Hereford reporter Keith Hall talked about the finances at the club.

Recently it was revealed that the club had lost £230,000 in the year to May 31st 2022. This followed losses of £68,000 and £283,000 in the previous two years. A total of £582,000 in three seasons.

This season to date gates are up by 17% and the club had a good run in the FA Cup. The game against Portsmouth may have netted the club the best part of £100,000. 

It also seems that the club has taken a firmer line especially with the football budget so any overspend may be minimal.

It probably explains why manager Josh Gowling has had to trim his squad recently. Some players have moved on, others loaned out.

"The way that things are working out at the minute and the announcements that have been made about the club finances that seems to be the reason behind it," said Hall.

Owens felt it was no great surprise that losses had been made in recent seasons.

"I think they were one of only two clubs that kept going during the FA Trophy run," said Hall.

"Every other club seemingly virtually shut down during that period.

"I know that's a while back now but annual accounts do tend to drop over a couple of seasons. But you can not sustain those sort of losses. For a part time club it needs rectifying.

"Although I'm hearing on the grapevine that we're actually expected to make a profit in this current season.

"It's whatever you choose to believe whether you are looking at things positively thinking well they've put to bed a very Covid period and the follow on from that with crowds still down.

"Money is trickling in through the turnstiles again.

"It's whether you look at that and think the decisions that needed to be made have already been made." 

Of course Hereford are only half way through the season. And if they stay in the bottom half of the table attendances will drop.

They may drop anyway if performances such as that at Gloucester last Saturday continue. 

But any profit in the current year will be welcome and, if that happens, then chairman Jon Hale and the club board will deserve some praise for getting the finances at Edgar Street back on track.