EXPERIENCED defender Chris Barker sees no reason why his new club Hereford FC cannot make it all the way to the National League Premier.

Barker was part of the Aldershot Town side that memorably lost 2-1 to Hereford United on the final day of the 2015/16 season.

That kept United up against all the odds, but the Bulls were subsequently demoted from the Conference due to mounting debts.

Six months later, Hereford were wound up in the High Court and Hereford FC were duly formed.

And after joining the Bulls, Barker has every faith they can gain promotion from Southern Football League South & West and start climbing the leagues.

"I remember 500, 600 Hereford fans in the corner and having a great win against Aldershot," said Barker.

"I think we won the week before to stay up as well, so it's very clear, but it's a new era now, it's a new club and we're starting things again.

"Hopefully we can get to that league again."

Hereford will be odds-on favourites to gain back-to-back promotions, but Barker says footballers like playing under pressure.

"I think, because of the size of Hereford in this league, it will be everyone's cup final but we've got to handle that and hopefully we can and go win the league," said Barker.

Barker, who has amassed more than 500 Football League appearances, joins Hereford as player-coach.

The 36-year-old was caretaker manager of Aldershot last year, but after leaving the Shots, he began talking with Hereford.

"It was something that I felt was just right and the right time for me," said Barker.

"I made the decision and hopefully it's the right one

"Hopefully I will play as many games as I can, obviously I'm getting on now but hopefully I can help the young lads and I can do a bit of coaching off the field.

"I think I'm more of a centre-back these days, but if I need to play anywhere along the back four, I will do that.

"I just want to play as many games as I can and help the club.

"It's not about me, it's about the group of lads we've got and working to get promoted.

"I will be doing a lot of defensive work and hopefully we'll get as many clean sheets as we can and if you do that then you're always going to have a chance of winning games."

Hereford assistant manager Steve Jenkins won the South & West division with Merthyr Town in 2014/15 and says he knows what it takes to get out of the league.

"It's not going to be easy, it's going to be difficult and there will be seven or eight teams with ambitions to get out of it, just like us," said Jenkins.

"You look at the usual suspects in terms of annually challenging for the play-offs, like Taunton and Evesham, but there will be one or two teams who will go under the radar a little bit and do really well next year.

"It's a good quality league and it's not going to be easy."