June 1999

June 5th:

MIKE Hancocks, managing director of Aston Manor brewery, has resigned from the board of Hereford United after only ten months with the Nationwide Conference club.

Hancocks joined the board when Graham Turner became the major shareholder last year.

GRAHAM Turner has his sights on the left-back and central midfielder he believes can make Hereford United a promotion-chasing force reports the Sports Argus.

The Bulls boss declared himself delighted with the summer additions of Steve Piearce, Leroy May and Rob Elmes, while youngsters Craig Hanson and James Wall are set to link up from Derby County.

Hanson, a striker, and Wall, a central defender, both impressed in a couple of trial games with Hereford and will officially sign forms for the Bulls at the start of next month when their deals with Derby expire.

With midfielder John Snape following Mark Taylor in signing new deals to stay at Edgar Street, Turner is, forgive the pun, Bull-ish about the prospects.

The fans have already expressed their anticipation of the good times returning to the club relegated from Division Three in 1997 with £30,000 worth of season tickets being sold up of the end of May.

"On the face of it, I believe we are stronger now than we have been for the last two seasons in the size of the squad and the variety within it," said Turner.

"We've got a few young players but we've also got experience."

He added: "We are in need of a couple of players, a left-back and central midfielder, but I'm happy with the way the squad is coming together.

"The wave of optimism around the club has been reflected in the season ticket sales which are up compared to his time last season."

The Bulls' financial restraints, which have prompted the sale of players like Richard Walker and Richard Leadbeater in mid-season, have yet to be fully overcome but Turner says there is now a base to go forward.

"Financially it is still tight but we are gradually turning the situation around," he added.

"But now the priority has got to be the playing side. In football you've got to speculate a bit.

"We want the side to do better than they did last season - and I think the potential is there to do well."

June 12th:

HEREFORD United boss Graham Turner will be working his way through the PFA released list as he ponders his next move into the summer transfer market.

Around 500 players looking for clubs feature on the list, and Turner, who has targeted a left-back and central midfielder, to add to his summer revamp.

At the moment, though, he is keeping his cards close to his chest.

"There a few well worth looking at and I'll be making a few phone calls," said Turner. "There's plenty of names and I will be working my way through the list."

Late June:

HUISA commented on the decision of Mike Hancocks to leave the Hereford United board.

This was a genuine surprise to all concerned. After around 10 months on the board Mike Hancocks stood down. He inferred that GT was 'an all-powerful chairman' whom he could not guide and cast doubts about him taking 'a substantial salary out of the club for his services'. Further, many other members of the board were remote and did not contribute, Mr Hancocks is quoted as saying. Again, HUISA remain cautious about this development. There is truth in the 'remoteness' argument, HUISA have said it ourselves. While he was in post Mike spoke several times about the direction of the club, most recently to several supporters at the Player of the Year evening. However, Mike was on the board and had the best chance of succeeding whilst he remained on the board surely.

Somehow we feel we haven't heard the last of Mike Hancocks. HUISA has written a courteous letter to him (whatever you think about the man, he did give it a go) requesting a meeting, in order that we can discuss his ideas for the future of the Football Club.

There has been speculation surrounding recent business relationships which have allegedly been developing between Robin Fry and Mike Hancocks which HUISA are concerned about.

We do understand that Mike Hancocks has enetered discussions with Robin Fry to obtain a written statement on oath, or affidavit, in order that the club could build up an effective defence in the pending legal case involving John Layton.

The Hancocks resignation has drawn comment in the letter pages of the local papers, one of the letters casting disparaging comments about HUISA and inviting our response. Quite rightly and properly we respond only to you the members. If we respond publicly, it will be at a time of our choosing. We are sure that our actions in keeping our club alive say all that needs to be said and we will not be drawn into what the hostile writer clearly wishes to make into a slanging match.