GEORGE Webb talks about why he became a director of Hereford FC.

I AM often asked why I got involved with Hereford FC and it must be great to be a director of a football club I love?

The decision to get involved was easy – in fact instinctive.

I guess any supporter who wants to make a difference would feel the same.

We were very fortunate to have a number of proven and successful businessmen who are also passionate supporters, that were prepared to “pump-prime” the finances needed to start this phoenix club, and let me be clear, had this support not been there then I am absolutely convinced that we could not have secured the initial lease term of five years.

The opportunity to help construct a business and commercial plan to drive Hereford FC was a challenge I wanted and relished, recognising all the risks that go with the dangers of any new enterprise, only this one would be very public.

As a director of Hereford FC, I see this a director of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), it is simply a co-incidence that it is a football club.

It needs to be run on a sustainable commercial basis that can deliver football on match days to our supporters to the very best standard possible.

I have not lost my passion for the football and on match days, I suffer and enjoy the ups and downs just like everyone else – although these days I show more respect to match officials and turn off the stand lights to save money.

Outside of those match days , it’s a business that needs to manage its costs and maximise its commercial return just like any other.

I always remember Graham Turner saying “most football club chairman leave their brains at the turn-style.”

This is a quote all of us in the boardroom and support team are aware of and we treat Hereford FC as a precious gift and will not allow the club to go through the same financial pain that previous regimes brought.

The original business plan has understandably evolved and changed to reflect the reality of today’s business.

Hereford FC is a multi-faceted business that is ever changing and we find something new every day and have to learn, adapt and implement new ways of doing things.

Our stadium is an example of that, it would take another “view point” to go through all the issues we face but we know that, for Hereford FC to progress and flourish, we need to maximise the opportunities that Edgar Street affords but also to look after it and nurture it in ways that may not have be done for a generation – after all we haven’t got anywhere else and won’t be going anywhere either.

We will undoubtedly make mistakes along the way and of course some of the decisions we take may not be popular with all supporters , but everyone should know that the decisions we make , the actions we take are done in good faith and in the interests of Hereford FC. This is about today , tomorrow and beyond not about yesterday , that was then – this is now.