THE terraced stands behind each goal at the Edgar Street football stadium have been excluded from the current lease offer as they require "considerable expenditure".

Herefordshire Council, which is currently in the process of inviting offers from interested parties for the ground, has left the terraced Meadow End and Blackfriars End off the area to be leased.

The authority says it believes there is sufficient capacity in the Merton Stand and Len Weston Stand to cope with demand of any new team.

In a statement it says: "The end terraces have been excluded from the lease as they require considerable expenditure to bring them up to a safe and usable condition.

"There is sufficient capacity in east and west stands to meet the likely spectator capacity.

"There are no firm plans for these areas at present.

"Any future plans for the stands and how they can best support football will be discussed with the preferred tenants.”

A bid by lifelong Hereford United fan Jon Hale, and supported by the Hereford United Supporters Trust (HUST), is the only publicly named group which has put its name forward so far. 

The ground became vacant after the now defunct Hereford United was wound-up in the High Court before Christmas.