The end of Hereford United?
 

Looks like they are going bust, they are in court tomorrow with the tax man.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

They seem resigned to liquidation, rather than administration. A great shame.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

There but for the help of Ilyas...

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Terrible news.

Ilyas = God :)

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Shame hate to see any small club in the crap, Those in power show very little if any concern fer the minnows of league football. never have, disgraceful imho.:(

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I think you'll find it's a week on Monday, the 7th.

The club's not necessarily going bust and there are a few options left, including administration. That said, they are definitely struggling and not just financially, with crowd numbers less than half of what they were getting just six years ago. Results have taken a turn for the worse too; no wins and just three points from the last eleven matches.

I think we all wish them well, especially the fans.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Their average gate this season is 1,704. Difficult to run a professional club on gates like that.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

...which makes Stanley's achievements all the more amazing.
Hope The Bulls survive, somehow.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I've been reading about Hereford's plight... Hereford United Latest News ... Best wishes to them,especially their supporters!

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

It would be a crying shame if Hereford go out of business. I really hope that the people of Hereford get behind the club and save them from the fate that we suffered in the 1960's.
We can identify 100% with them as a similar sized club fighting constantly against the odds. We have had some great games against them in our Conference days and first few seasons back in the Football League.
Come on citizens of Hereford.......Don't let your club die!
ON HEREFORD ON

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

The problem is the supporters do not give them any hope of or reason for raising the 75 grand in order to stave off closure as they see any money forthcoming to be merely lining the pockets of David Keyte who wants out and will sell out to anyone naive and rich enough to take the club off his hands. Administration would only delay the inevitable, so sadly, liquidation seems to be the only option.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

It looks like the Bulls have managed to find enough to prevent liquidation on Monday:
BBC Sport - Hereford United: Heineken donates £10k to Bulls fund

Best wishes to them and their fans in the weeks ahead.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Another £1500 has come from a winning bet on the Grand National!
BBC Sport - Hereford United given seven-day adjournment to settle tax bill

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Their situation is still desperate in spite of just managing to pay off the tax man's bill for 75,000. Will they attract the financial backing necessary from new investors?

"The Board of HUST would like to state that, in line with previous public statements from the Club and individual Board members, they were told that another winding-up petition from HMRC is expected to be received in due course, and will likely be heard in the High Court before the Conference AGM in early June. Around £220,000 is still required by the club to meet it’s obligations up to the Conference AGM in seven weeks time including tax, wages, and fees due on loan players.

HUST will continue to support fund raising schemes and will happily pass across donations on the specifications of supporters however, realistically, the club will only survive in its current form with a significant cash injection by the end of May.

The Club’s Board continues to seek an investor for a takeover of the Club from outside the Hereford United fanbase, and have indicated that they would walk away from the club if guaranteed investment can be secured."

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Ouch. Good luck HUFC, would regret loss of possible future sheep/whippet banter!

Then again. I've never seen Edgar Street .....

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I've been to every single match we've played there and want them back in the league so that I can eventually see that elusive Stanley win down there! :)

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I must admit, I wont be rushing back to Edgar street !!!

Cracking chippy there is about the highlight.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Time about to run out for their survival. New investors promised by their chairman David Keyte for last weekend have failed to materialise and if it doesn't happen in the next couple of days they are goosed. Now too late for their Supporters Trust to step in even if they had a credible plan, which is stretching believability. Players who stuck with it even without being paid are now abandoning them. If the new investment was really going to happen in time the board could have paid them what was owed. Desperate times.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Some more news

BBC Sport - Hereford United: Investors begin payment process to Bulls creditors

No matter who the club is, would never like to see any club go.........

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

...apart from Franchise who aren't a real club anyway.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Hereford United escaped the drop by using better players, players that were then not paid. I would save your sympathy for those clubs who operated in a financially responsible way but we're relegated.
If Hereford were in our league they would have been deducted 10 (or maybe 20) points but the conference has no provision for deducting points. How would you feel if Stanley were relegated below another team that had been into administration twice, writing off their debts and starting again with a clean slate?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Which has what to do wi the ordinary fan,who follows the club?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Saddens me to see another old fashioned club going up the wall.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

The Conference is actually far stricter than the Football League when it comes to penalties for financial issues. If Hereford haven't cleared their debts in full by the time of the AGM they are out. CVA's and administration don't help. They bring about a points deduction in season and there are transfer embargoes similar to those that exist in the Football league for non payment of players. Aldershot were given a ten point deduction at the beginning of the season for being in Administration when they came down from the Football League and told they had a season to get their finances in order with all debts paid off or they were straight through to the leagues lower than Conference North/ South which I believe they have managed to do. I hope Hereford manage it as well as I don't want to see anybody go to the wall and there have been a number of occasions in recent years when our players haven't been paid on time, something I hope is well and truly behind us.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Everything still shrouded in mystery!

Bulls News

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Thanks for the detail, Lost.. I really didn't know all that

What it has to do with the ordinary fan? About as much as Stanley's demise in 1962 had to do with the ordinary Stanley fan. Or the liquidation of rumbelows, Woolworths and boo.com had to do with their customers. Businesses have to pay their way and if they don't then they fail, irrespective of the feelings of their ordinary fans/customers.
It's cruel but it also allows for new viable businesses/clubs to come through. My point is that Hereford signed players they could not afford and so cheated their way to staying in the league while other clubs were relegated after behaving responsibly. So I know where my sympathy lies.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Well yeh would know what if yeh had any sense, I was a teenage fan of Stanley in 62, n if yeh can't grasp what, then yer dumber than i thought.:rolleyes:

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Having a different opinion to Cashman on any issue means you're dumb.

Simples.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Not at all, but stupid comments means yer dumb,seems you have joined the club.:D

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

ianray (Ray to his friends) said there are no more places in the cashman stupid club.
Ray is the current chairman of the club and I am the life time president.
We may have a vacancy for a club secretary, but cashman hasnt ridiculed you enough for you to be considered a worthy applicant.
Keep talking common sense and one day you will be worthy of entry to the cashman stupid club.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Now i know yer talking rubbish,yeh just proved it, as i was wi Ray at a funeral on Friday.;)

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Oh Dear!

New Owners Considering Administration/CVA
By Bobo

The Hereford Times reports the following from today's Court hearing:

Registrar Stephen Baister adjourned the petition until June 30 this morning after club lawyers told him that the club was purchased last week and the new owners are investigating options including administration and a creditors voluntary arrangement (CVA).

The registrar said that he would give the club until June 30 to 'look into all those possibilities'.

Link: Hereford United winding-up petition adjourned for 28 days (From Hereford Times)

Any Administration or CVA deal would incur the wrath of the Conference and a ten point deduction. That deduction could still be incurred this season, effectively relegating the Bulls to Conf North for 2014/15, if the Conference chose to do so in line with their rules.

Winding Up Petition Adjourned For 28 Days
By Bobo

The Winding-Up Petition against the Bulls has been adjourned for 28 days.

The High Court granted the extension this morning, with a club statement saying that the time would give the two sides more time to negotiate.

It is understood that, despite the 28 day extension, any agreement will have to be determined ahead of Friday's Conference AGM in order to avoid falling foul of Conference rules.

News Round-Up
By Bobo

To make things worse, Bulls banter is alive with rumours that, allegedly, the new owner has a 7 year conviction for lorry theft! The Conference won't sanction any new arrangement if that is true, so the club would be history on Friday.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Conference history with both Chester and Boston United suggests that they would drop further than Conference South for a CVA / Administration deal if it's before the AGM. Also rumours that the Conference are asking for a £250000 bond to guarantee that they will finish next season or to share between the clubs who miss out on gate receipts if they don't.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

How DAFt can it get ? :)

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Bet he prefers his teams to play with a Flat Back Four :D

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

hope they can turn this around and evade closure such a proud club like stanley, its happening to much now for smaller clubs think these big clubs should have to spend some money on lower leagues!

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Conference boss speaks and makes good sense:-

BBC Sport - Hereford United: Tommy Agombar takes over as owner of the Bulls

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I have NEVER commented on cashman and never would ... DAV007 STOP telling lies and including me in your posts as i find it upsetting ... ive met cashman and find him to be a gentleman and friend ...

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Chill Out Ray old boy it's only a bit of banter a bit like all the V's you were giving me at the last away game!!!

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Not sure Cashy will be best pleased that he is being outed as having friends, that will kill his reputation :D

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Its good making friends off one meeting..........Love at first sight perhaps?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

It's now almost inevitable that the Bulls will be demoted to the nether regions of the leagues. The fans who raised about 78 grand to cover the HMRC tax bill are in a murderous mood regarding David Keyte who has consistently refused to engage with the fans organisation. The new investor was never going to come up with all the money required to survive in the Conference. Awful.

"Football Creditors Not Paid
By Bobo

The Bulls are understood to have not paid football creditors by today's 5pm deadline.

It is understood that the deadlock between Tommy Agombar and Dennis Strudwick continues with Agombar demanding written assurances from the Conference of the Bulls' survival in the fifth tier if they settled the bills. Strudwick is understood to have refused such assurances.

The matter will now go to a vote of the Conference board early tomorrow afternoon, with a unanimous vote sees the immediate expulsion of the Bulls. A split decision will see the Premier clubs vote on the Bulls' future on Saturday."

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

The club put a statement or non-statement on Twitter last night saying "Hereford United will not be making any statement tonight regarding the current financial situation at Edgar Street"

Fans were no doubt going mental - Real shoddy way to treat football fans.

Wonder if this will mean a reprieve for Chester ?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Put your house on it!

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I've already put it on Stanley going up next season :eek:

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Well after the debacle with the meeting in Newport today, The Football Conference can only be described as weak. Originally stating that there will be no extensions to the Thursday deadline for all debts to be paid, they have now got an extension until tomorrow when all debts must be paid off to all creditors which for some reason do not include the HMRC. Chester FC must be hopping mad, although maybe a drop in one division is not as bad as the fall from grace that awaits the Bulls.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Chester fans not happy about the latest extended deadline given to Hereford:-

"Infact don't bother paying for anything whatsoever, shaft everyone, shaft local businesses, take the mick out of your customers (the fans). Promise "further investors (Stephen Vaughn laundering drugs money) and the Conference STILL WILL NOT EXPELL YOU!!!! Absolutely shocking!"

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Well it's no surprise some of their fans would say that in their situation. But there's a bit of a difference between a relegation and going out of existence, which is what's really at stake for the Bulls. Given their recent history, most Chester fans, as opposed to their hard-line message board nutters (like us :D), will probably get that.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Knocking bet

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Well, the Football Conference really are a weak bunch of people. HUFC have now got till Monday 9th June to pay all debts. What is the point of deadlines. Whilst I understand nobody wants to see their club demoted to the nether regional leagues, perhaps this would have been best. Chester FC have come back and although relegated from the Conference National last season, I believe they could have a case for suing the Conference committee for breach of promise!

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

The whole situation stinks that's for sure.

I can imagine Chester are over the moon with the situation.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Eh?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I believe the quote was tongue in cheek;)

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Innocence is my middle name!

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

D-Day for The Bulls?
Bulls News: Conference Statement "Around 4pm"

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Demotion-Day indeed.
Bulls News: Bulls Expelled From The Conference

Sad reflection that football remains, like much of our economy, a dog-eat-dog's breakfast.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Although the Football Conference have at last had the balls to do what they threatened and demote Hereford and reinstate Chester FC, I think the whole saga stinks and shows what a weak bunch of people run the league. To give 2 stays of demotion and then finally do the deed when it became apparent that they could not fulfil their obligations, is IMHO disgraceful. Whilst Chester fans and the football club will now be joyous, I can imagine the mood in Chester with all the stays of execution being rather black to say the least.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I'm not quite so critical of the Conference, as you seem to be Ozzy. Some might argue that they gave The Bulls every chance (or at least three chances) to abide by the rules. That they couldn't take those chances is tough on the fans, but acting immediately is not always for the best. If you recall 1962, the Football League under Alan Hardaker gave Stanley no second chance, and refused to rescind the letter of resignation when some, including Mr.Cocker the chairman, sought to salvage the club.
Let's hope for Hereford's fans that this latest setback sends the spivs and wanna-be owners running, and that, in the end, it allows the club to be reclaimed by and for its fans.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Quite unbelievable news that Hereford have gone.

Another VERY sad day for English football.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Agreed.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Can Hereford go into conference north?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

As somebody posted on twitter
Hereford united debt = £148,000...expelled from conference

QPR debt = £60,000,000... Promoted to premier league

Says all you need to know bout the state of football in this country :(

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

No they've been expelled from the Conference.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

I wonder how long it will be before we see every team in the Football League and Conferences go into receivership in unison at the end of every season? :eek:
The underlying threat that the massively indebted big boys hold over everyone else is that if you owe £165K it's your problem, if you owe £60M - £600M, it's the banks' problem. Thus the Premier League Global Conglomerate Club Inc. (and the Exchequer) are happy to go on inflating the costs of the game knowing that the banks will not call in their debts.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Could Hereford go into the Welsh premier league?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

The only relevant question is who will have them, I'm afraid.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Whilst I agree with the sentiment of what happened to Stanley in 1962, my argument is that the Conference bods gave HUFC 3 chances to abide by the rules, how many times do people get 3 chances? It showed weakness. However, I also agree, as others have said, HUFC go out of the Conference for less than 200K yet QPR get promoted with a 60 million debt. I do hope HUFC do what Chester FC and ourselves have done and come back better and stronger for the experience. We can only thank Ilyas for saving us in our hour of need a few years ago.Otherwise, where would Stanley be now?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Yes, Ozzy, the one amazing and joyous fact from this latest sorry saga is that, against all the odds, our little club continues to survive in the Football League. Let's hope a few more good folk recognise this as the miracle it truly is, and come along to The Crown this coming season to ride the emotional roller-coaster that is Stanley.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

A sad day to see a fine little club similar to ours get expelled like this!:(
Perhaps QPR could have gifted Hereford £200k knowing that they themselves appear to be untouchable by the finance fuss pots!:mad:
I sincerely hope the Hereford can do what we did and make their way back up the ladder.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

A sorry state of today's game when a club in existence for 90 years looks like going to the wall for the less money than some Premier League players earn in a week.

Hope they do what others have done - dust themselves off and rise again.

Good luck to them and Good riddance to the clowns that were running them.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Not 100% sure but don't think they are "going bust".

My take on it is that have debts and creditors (don't most clubs) and the conditions the Conference have laid down can't be meet.

I'm guessing leagues below the Conference will welcome Hereford with their ground and support.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Looks like the Calor Southern League premier (7th tier) may be an option for Hereford.
Calor League Southern

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Salisbury City aren't out of the mire yet. The Conference have tweeted that they will make a statement about them at 1pm tomorrow (Friday).

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Could mean a reprieve for Dartford then.

The way it's going even Hyde could stay up :eek:

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Hereford supporters are gravely concerned about their new owner's request to the local council for the transfer of leases from the club to himself and have set up a petition.

The full item from Bulls News is here:
Bulls News: Petition To Hereford Council About Leases

This is the first paragraph:
A petition has been set up to protest at any transfer of leases to Tommy Agombar or one of his companies. The petition is at https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitio...-tommy-agombar

I'm sure they'd welcome support from other clubs' supporters...

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Done, hope they get somewhere with it - this bloke sounds almost as dodgy as Stephen Vaughan

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Funny that you should mention Stephen Vaughan...
Bulls News: Has Stephen Vaughan Reappeared?

It's reported that he was at the club yesterday and there are rumours that Agombar is just a front for him.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Salisbury are demoted to Conference South.

Meanwhile, the Southern League have agreed to accept Hereford next season 'subject to the club meeting certain criteria'. Most fans feel that the club has been stolen from them; nothing's certain yet but this article just about sums up the current situation:

Hereford United ? How It Came To This | Twohundredpercent

Sad times...

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Did Hayes get re-promoted?

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

No Dartford have been re-instated into the Conference Premier.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Things are looking bad for Hereford fans. The new owner, a convicted criminal, failed to meet promises to pay staff and football creditors so they were kicked out of the Conference. Most staff haven't been paid since February so have walked out of the club.

It seems probable that the Southern League's financial requirements won't be met and that there will be no football at Edgar Street next season.

The new owner surprisingly resigned as a director after a few days, possibly in an attempt to get round 'fit and proper' rules, but still attended a meeting with the local council, along with another convicted criminal, reportedly to discuss the transfer of leases to his company.

Fans believe the new owner is just there for asset-stripping; most supporters would now welcome liquidation and supporters are planning for a phoenix club to pick up the pieces.

There's a lot more about this sad state of affairs on Bulls News and Main Forum | Bulls Banter

Accy fans can help by adding their names to the 6000+ who've signed the petition at https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitio...-tommy-agombar

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Accepted by the Southern League but...they're already talking about applying sanctions to 'em and they haven't even kicked a ball yet! Think this will end in tears.


BBC Sport - Hereford United may face Southern League extra 'sanctions'

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Oh dear, doesn't sound good for 'em - there but for the grace of god (➕ Ilyas & Peter Marsden)

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Maybe its a good thing if they go bust and start again???

According to Halifax and Chester fans it was the best thing they could have done. Yes Chester where lucky this year but im sure given their previous situations they would both be happy with 5th tier football guaranteed.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

For the club I suspect it might be the best thing to go bust and start again. My issue then is with all the businesses, many of them small, who are owed money by HUFC and who lose out big time. Some of them could end up going to the wall as well through no fault of their own.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Salisbury have problems with a new 'owner' who appears to have disappeared from the scene when needed. They've now been expelled from Conference South which is likely to only have 21 teams next season:
BBC Sport - Salisbury City: Football Conference expel struggling club

At Hereford, something new seems to turn up every day. Most real fans are refusing to have anything to do with the new regime and are hoping for a phoenix club. The local council has refused a safety certificate which has meant the cancellation of a cynically arranged charity match with an army battalion, where the 'profits' would have gone to Help for Heroes. Many fans had already decided to boycott the match and have made donations to the charity separately. It looks like a match against a Cardiff City team will also be cancelled.

To their credit, after pressure from fans, Plymouth have pulled out of a friendly, saying that the opposition will not be of the expected standard, and have opted to play Weston-super-Mare instead. And many local non-league and Sunday league sides have also cancelled friendlies out of respect for the Hereford fans. Grays arranged a friendly but pulled out, leaving just Droylsden as the only team currently prepared to play them.

There's a winding-up case on Monday morning, postponed from last week. Whereas most fans would prefer the club to be wound up there's talk of a possible CVA which would just prolong the agony.

If anyone wants to know more about the goings-on at Edgar Street, have a look at Bulls News where there's also a copy of Salisbury's statement after being expelled from the Conference.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

A proposed CVA was rejected at a creditors' meeting this afternoon so it's possible that HUFC (1939) has played its last game.

The club has played two Southern League matches so far, both at home, losing one and drawing the other. Most fans have boycotted the matches and the supporters' team have attracted bigger gates. Just like Vaughan at Chester, Agombar, the owner, failed the FA's 'fit and proper' test, although most of the damage had been caused by Keyte, his predecessor.

Many are suggesting that a phoenix side is now the way forward.

Bulls News has the latest updates.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

whilst I have a great dislike for Hereford United and its fans I do have every sympathy for them in this case.

I think that football has a major part to play in every local community and Government (local or otherwise) should play a part in securing the venues up and down the country to ensure that they can't be sold for development. All these rogues who get involved purely for the real estate would then have to go and do something more useful rather than killing decades of heritage

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Most of Rob's points were mentioned in a debate in Parliament this afternoon about the state on non-league football. It includes a contribution from Graham Jones:
Read - UK Parliament

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

The noose tightens:-

Hereford United suspended from all football activity - Football Rules & Governance | The FA


Also yet another court case on Monday which could seal their fate.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Feel for the fans - used to enjoy our trips to Edgar Street.

Too many clowns running too many football clubs.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Very sad but, as Stanley prove, it's not necessarily fatal if enough fans keep the faith.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Don't worry too much about the fans, sad though it would be. Most of them think that the club ended at the end of last season when the crooks took over. They see winding up as an opportunity to reclaim the club and ground and make a fresh start.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Feel very sorry for the fans.

Hopefully they can wipe the slate clean and do a Wimbledon. :)

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Or a Stanley :)

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

They are back again

BBC Sport - Hereford United suspension from football lifted by FA

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

10 minutes to go before their latest court appearance. This article from the Bulls' former press officer sums up the fans' views:
Why I?m Praying ?My Club? Gets Wound Up Today | Jamie Griffiths

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Adjourned to 4:30 on Friday, the last time the court is operating before Christmas.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

That's only the deadline for the chairman to show proof at last that he has the 1 million he has repeatedly promised. Whether he then pays the creditors as promised is another matter entirely! This could have a long way to run yet, unless he fails to get the funds in place, at which point the judge will finally wind up the club.

Re: The end of Hereford United?
 

Gone.

BBC News - Hereford United is wound up by High Court over tax debt