OUTGOING Hereford FC player Aaron Birch admitted that he wasn't enjoying his football this season.

The central midfielder has decided to find a club closer to his Halesowen home after struggling with the travelling.

However, he admits that a club higher up in the pyramid would still tempt him if it's an offer he couldn't turn down.

"It was very difficult to ask the gaffer [Pete Beadle] to leave the club, especially as he gave me my first real experience of senior football, but I think he knew that I was struggling and that something wasn't right," said Birch.

"My performances this season have not been as good as I hoped as I strive to get back into the professional game and my form can be affected when I'm not happy off the field. "The extra travelling so far south this season has been really testing from my home near Halesowen and has meant I've not been enjoying my football as much.

"Right now I think that looking for a club closer to my home is what I need and, unless I receive an offer I cannot turn down from a club playing in a higher level, and despite offers to play Saturday, I will not rush into anything unless I think it is right.

"Wherever I end up, it will have to be very special to match the place I've spent the past year of my footballing life."

Birch added that he thinks Hereford will go from strength to strength.

"The club will always be close to my heart now, so I was delighted to see the lads pick up three more points on Saturday.

"I have no doubt that it will take a very good team to finish above them in the league this year and I'd love to think that some time in the future there might be a chance for me to return to the club in different circumstances at a higher level.

"Thank you to the board, staff, management and my brilliant team mates at Edgar Street for all the memories I take away from the past 14 months and, just as importantly, thank you to the club's fantastic fans for the support they have given me during my time at the club.

"It's safe to say that I'm unlikely to enjoy another song as much as the one they sung for me."