WESTFIELDS FC have welcomed the Herefordshire Football Association decision to call off one of their biggest games of the season.

The Midland Alliance side were due to play Hereford United later this month in what has become one of the club’s highest attended fixtures of the year.

Westfields won the right to play the Bulls in the HFA Senior Trophy final after winning the County Cup last season.

But with problems continuing to mount at Edgar Street, Westfields chief executive Andrew Morris applauded the decision to postpone the tie.

He said: ““Westfields FC were concerned over this fixture taking place in view of the present climate at Hereford United.

“We totally agree with the Herefordshire FA’s decision to postpone the game after we wrote to them with our concerns and observations.”

Mr Morris added that Westfields have enjoyed many pre-season friendlies with Hereford United since the early 1970s when their association with the Bulls began - and in later years contested the HFA County Senior Invitation Trophy.

“However the present situation at Edgar Street is certainly not the right climate to be playing a County Cup final and we are in agreement that the HFA has postponed the game,” he said.

“We feel there should be a Hereford United as the city and county needs a professional club as it has a tremendous fan base but it needs to have a sound business footing operating what is an historic club both in non-league and football league circles.”

Mr Morris, who volunteered to help the Bulls as an auctioneer at the John Hartson and Tim Witherspoon fundraising evenings last year, said everyone at allpay park was saddened by the Bulls’ demise.

He added: “We, as a club, financially supported Hereford United when they called for donations 12 months ago and some Westfields’ members also gave personal donations.”

• Westfields will now entertain Rhayader Town in the Dennis Hartland Memorial Trophy game at 7.45pm on July 29 at allpay.park.

The Hereford side will also face Worcester City at their home ground. The 7.45pm kick off on July 24 is the club’s first home pre-season friendly of the season.