Hereford United fans asked to help ease club's financial worries

Hereford have asked fans to help bail out the club after revealing they again face the threat of a winding-up order.

The Conference club are struggling to meet their monthly wage bill and have not met their latest PAYE payment to Revenue and Customs.

The club's board has asked supporters, including season ticket holders, to pay extra at the turnstiles for the three home games over the festive period.

"We need to raise £35,000 over the next 14 days," said a club statement.

"We are asking all season ticket holders if they would consider paying £10, or whatever they can afford, at the ground for the next three matches and all other supporters if they would donate a similar amount each to achieve this goal. Donations can also be made online."

In return, United, who also faced the threat of administration last season, will offer money off the season ticket prices for 2014-15, or shares in the club.

United host Conference Premier leaders Cambridge United on Saturday and then face a televised evening fixture with Forest Green on 28 December before a New Year's Day derby clash with Kidderminster Harriers.

The board hope the current problems might only be a short-term cash-flow issue, as they are close to signing new agreements with Herefordshire County Council for the Edgar Street site that will ultimately bring in a six-figure sum.

"We are at the final hurdle for signing revised leases that will, at last, enable us to approach developers with regard to the Blackfriars and Meadow End sites [adjoining the ground]," the statement read.

"Upon completion of the leases, which we now estimate to be during the first week of January, the club will be able to secure a 30-year contract that will see us receive an upfront six-figure sum to support the club through the remainder of the season.

"Despite the positive news that we are close to finally agreeing new leases, the club needs help. A short-term fix to secure the long-term future."

In an interview with BBC Hereford and Worcester on Thursday morning, Bulls manager Martin Foyle said he had only just been made aware of the gravity of the situation.

"I got told that there might be something coming out," he said. "But it a hard question to answer as I've only just had the paperwork land on my desk."

Hereford were bailed out by their FA Cup run a year ago, but despite generating almost £50,000 from a recent share issue, they face a larger tax bill this time.

And the situation was not helped by failing to generate as much money as they had hoped from the summer sales of Sam Clucas (Mansfield Town), Ryan Bowman (York City) and Marley Watkins (Inverness Caledonian Thistle).

"The club received 50% less than budgeted, although we hope press speculation is correct and Sam Clucas gets a move in January, as the club will be set to receive a 15% add-on fee," the statement added.

That could yet, however, be scuppered by Mansfield's revelation that 11-goal top scorer Clucas has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with ankle ligament damage.