Hereford United: Hard-up Bulls make backroom redundancies

Hard-up Hereford United have been forced to implement job cuts, with four backroom staff members made redundant.

Youth team assistant manager Steve Jenkins, goalkeeping coach/scout Ian Harris and two first team masseurs have all been released as part of ongoing cost-cutting measures at Edgar Street.

Hereford averted a winding-up order from Revenue and Customs by clearing a £36,800 PAYE bill.

But the board warned cuts still had to be made to provide financial stability.

The January deadline day sale of star player Josh O'Keefe to Kidderminster Harriers was not, as had been predicted, followed by the loss of skipper Luke Graham, who had been linked with the same move.

However, since the collapse of a potentially lucrative deal with a telecommunications company, Bulls chairman David Keyte has outlined the club's urgent need to attract 2,000-plus gates for the rest of the season, in order to be able to pay the bills.

Last Tuesday night's attendance of 2,014 for the derby game with Harriers, postponed from New Year's Day, was only Hereford's fourth crowd of the season in excess of 2,000, but their second in four days.

The club have also appealed for extra donations from fans and organised bucket collections at recent home games.

They have also offered fan representation on the board to the Hereford United Independent Supporters Association to help oversee the continued fundraising operation.

Hereford are back in Conference Premier action at Woking on Monday night.