HEREFORD FC have formally completed a deal with Herefordshire Council that will see them become the new tenant at Edgar Street.

The lease has been signed after four weeks of negotiations between the club and local authority.

It will begin immediately and will run for five seasons until the end of the 2019/20 campaign.

Hereford FC Chairman Jon Hale said: "‘We are absolutely delighted to have reached a point where we have formally secured a home for Hereford FC.

"Edgar Street has a special place in the hearts of so many football fans – both locally and nationally – and we now look forward to Hereford FC creating more memories to add to those of the past."

‘As you would expect, the lease negotiations have been thorough and lengthy, but in the end we have reached an agreement that both Hereford FC and Herefordshire Council are satisfied with.

"Although we have been handed the keys today, it will be some time before we can allow public access to the stadium as there is a significant amount of electrical repair work that needs to be completed.

"Furthermore, as part of its commitment to this deal, the local authority has major works to undertake too.

"I’d just like to place on record my thanks to Herefordshire Council and its legal team, and Matt Hayes from Harrison Clark Rickerbys who has acted on the club’s behalf, for the hard work they have done to ensure this deal was completed prior to the Football Association’s deadline to enter a league in 2015/16.

"I’d also like to thank the Hereford United Supporters Trust (HUST) membership for their support and for giving us the mandate to go ahead and complete this deal.

"Most all though, I’d like to express my gratitude to the individuals from the Hereford FC group and HUST who have worked tirelessly over many months to secure today’s deal.

"Without the incredible commitment shown by these people – and the four individuals who are providing a solid financial base of £200,000 for the club to build from – quite simply there would be no football team playing at Edgar Street to support next season."