Does anybody lie awake at night worrying about Hereford?

Richinns · Post by **Richinns** » 26 Mar 2014, 14:17

Their current situation is what concerns me far more than the impending relegation.

It is well known that we have tight financial constraints and with the recently announced 500K loss it is important to recognise next yearâ€™s figures will be a hell of a lot worse. What with relegation and loss in funding, no income from player sales, the payoff costs of Knill and low attendances through poor performances and unfortunate weather patterns then could we be heading down the same path? Comparable as we are in attendances â€“ is Hereford our future?

We cannot expect another bail out for Thea who has already done far more for this club than we could ever ask so where will the money come from to keep our club afloat?

I donâ€™t want us to be in the Conference but the wish that we still are in existence as a club who can compete is this league is a far greater worry to me at present.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 26 Mar 2014, 16:11

I share your concerns Richinns as Hereford is a similar club to Torquay - i.e. similar gates. Also, look at poor ol' Aldershot - in great danger of sliding into Conference South (although they had a 10 point deduction - there's no guarantee that won't happen to us in the future). I fear for the future of the Youth set-up for instance as in truth our survival depends on bringing young players through. The only crumbs are that I think we are still receiving payments for Bobby's appearances and there is the chance of Eunan going to a Premier club for big bucks, thus resulting in Torquay getting a slice. The other crumb is that I think our gates might actually be better than this season IF we were among the front runners. Other than that, we should all take up doing the Lottery. All this is on the assumption that we won't be in Div 2 next season .............

kevgull · Post by **kevgull** » 27 Mar 2014, 08:23

Apparently are debt has grown to nearly 1/4 million pounds!

Ship the whole squad out and start again!

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/3 ... /story.htm

taxilady · Post by **taxilady** » 27 Mar 2014, 09:44

that link isn't working for me; just trying out this one...http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/3 ... story.html

Post by **Dave** » 27 Mar 2014, 11:21

Chester City - FC Chester, Halifax - FC Halifax, Aldershot Town - Aldershot in the mire again, Newport now back in the league, Stockport County and list goes on and on, for every club that recovers from relegation to the conference there is more that don't.

Yep we recovered, rebuilt last time, but the club did of the back of fresh investment, with out this time, no chance. Not saying that administration will follow, or we'll become the next FC XXXXXX , but with out new investment I can see the clubs only choice will be to slash budgets, slash being the key word, no recovery for this time, that's why it was vital to stay in the league.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 22 Apr 2014, 20:10

Hereford must win their final game on Saturday away at already safe Aldershot and hope that Chester don't at least draw to have a chance of avoiding the same fate as Stockport and dropping further down the leagues. It's a fine line between survival and total footballing Armageddon being in the conference I reckon. Crazy isn't it?

It's really sad for them if they drop again although from a personal perspective I want Chester to stay up instead because they are nearer to me. I don't lie awake thinking about Hereford but the reality check of life in the conference has got me reaching for the Nytol.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 22 Apr 2014, 20:16

Oh and they probably deserve to go down due to having the laziest programme editor in football who then has the gall to produce what I can only describe as a 'pamphlet' and knock them out en masse for £3.

They also have the narrowest turnstiles in world football and the first time I went I had to shed 4 stone in 10 minutes before I could squeeze through. Very inconvenient. Once I was in I had my view obscured by rows of concrete posts and I also was only wearing a pair of adidas gazelle that day with no socks and I got cramp in my feet and minor foot appendages as it was cold on their terrace.

They also have what appears to be joined together conservatories supplied by B&Q that run alongside the pitch.

For these reasons alone I think Hereford should drop.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 26 Apr 2014, 22:23

The bastards stayed up at the expense of Chester! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Oh well, at least I get to see the Mappa Mundi again next season. A humbling experience.

Post by **SuperNickyWroe** » 26 Apr 2014, 22:27

watched chester on BT sport...

couldnt believe that salisbury equalised and 5 seconds later hereford scored to keep them in the league.......... :no:

Scorpion · Post by **Scorpion** » 27 Apr 2014, 10:58

Hereford's financial problems are entirely self inflicted.

Their League TV money has dropped sharply, their gates are sub 2000 and they have no rich backer. As a result their only sensible option was to fix a budget they could afford for this season, probably going part time in the process. They did not do this.

Hereford aren't alone as Macclesfield and Salisbury have had similar problems for similar reasons. The lesson for Torquay and indeed everyone else is to fix a budget the club can actually afford.

Burnhamgull · Post by **Burnhamgull** » 27 Apr 2014, 12:17

Hereford, Chester, Stockport County and dare I say Darlington.......

I worry about all of these clubs because they're the same size as Torquay and at some point every small town club will be swallowed up overtaken by better run clubs with a potentially larger fanbase.

Nobody thought MK Dons would work but which club (MK Dons or Wimbledon) look likely to have the better future?

Quite simply Torquay are a small town club with average gates of 2-2.5k. It's been the same for years and despite minor successes the crowds haven't changed.

In comparison look at clubs like Leyton Orient, Doncaster and Yeovil. It was only a few short years ago we were playing and beating these clubs in league games. They have all progressed, we haven't.

My fear is we could become a bit of a yo-yo club between L2 and the conference.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » 27 Apr 2014, 16:19

Scorpion wrote:Hereford's financial problems are entirely self inflicted.

Their League TV money has dropped sharply, their gates are sub 2000 and they have no rich backer. As a result their only sensible option was to fix a budget they could afford for this season, probably going part time in the process. They did not do this.

Hereford aren't alone as Macclesfield and Salisbury have had similar problems for similar reasons. The lesson for Torquay and indeed everyone else is to fix a budget the club can actually afford.

Great post.

I've said it before, life will probably get worse before it gets better. For me, the club needs to budget next season on a 1500 average gate and early cup exits. The result won't be great in terms of what CH can do with the squad, but providing it is enough to keep us up for a couple of years whilst the club balance the books then that's fine with me.

The money that clubs like Forest Green throw around isn't sustainable, and will bite them on the backside sooner rather than later.

Authorising huge spending in one all-out attack at regaining FL status at the first time of asking would be beyond foolish.

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 27 Apr 2014, 16:36

I have a feeling that some at the club have one eye on a very different method of "balancing the books"...

Matt.

Burnhamgull · Post by **Burnhamgull** » 27 Apr 2014, 17:23

Are they going to sell the supporters?

lucy6lucy · Post by **lucy6lucy** » 27 Apr 2014, 17:28

Jeff wrote: Great post.

I've said it before, life will probably get worse before it gets better. For me, the club needs to budget next season on a 1500 average gate and early cup exits. The result won't be great in terms of what CH can do with the squad, but providing it is enough to keep us up for a couple of years whilst the club balance the books then that's fine with me.

The money that clubs like Forest Green throw around isn't sustainable, and will bite them on the backside sooner rather than later.

Authorising huge spending in one all-out attack at regaining FL status at the first time of asking would be beyond foolish.

Would of thought 2000 average gate tbh. It's not as if away teams brought fans in numbers this year. Don't have category matches and no all ticket matches.

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