THE group behind a plan to launch a phoenix club in the wake of Hereford United being wound up want it to be called Hereford FC.

The businessmen have put together a plan with Hereford United Supporters Trust for the club to play at Edgar Street and spoke to Herefordshire Council leader Tony Johnson this morning.

“I chatted at length with Mr Johnson this morning and it was pleasing to get another chance to reiterate quite how serious we are about our business plan and explain that we feel our group, all lifelong Hereford United supporters, working alongside the Hereford United Supporters Trust (HUST), will be able to provide football fans in the city - and the wider community - with the type of club they deserve," said Jon Hale, on behalf of the group.

“We completely understand that the council have to carry out ‘due process’ when it comes to reassigning the leases to a new tenant at Edgar Street, but I believe our plan offers the council a realistic and thoroughly professional option moving forward.

"Our proposal for Herefordshire Council to have responsibility for development of the two ends forms part of the plan we have presented.

“While respecting the council’s position, we have emphasised the need to try to get things sorted as quickly as possible as any phoenix club needs to be entered into a league by the end of March.

“With that in mind I have been in contact with the Herefordshire Football Association this morning and have submitted affiliation forms with the proposed club name, Hereford Football Club, to ensure it is registered for use. As a group we felt this was the most sensible name to go with – a choice we shared with the HUST Chairman and Vice Chairman - especially as we have been able to secure the website domain name and social media accounts to match it.

“The next step for our group will be to meet the council early in the New Year to talk in more detail about the leases and also discuss how we go about negotiating for them.

“As soon as the time is right we will share the content of our business plan with a wider audience, but while the legal situation with the leases is still ongoing we feel it is a little too early to release more detail.

“However, I would like to reassure people that if positive progress continues to be made, we will be looking at as many ways as possible to share the plan and also give people the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns or offer their own observations.

“After all that has gone on during the past few months, we completely understand the need to be open and transparent to try to rebuild the confidence and trust that has been sadly lacking in recent times. We would just ask supporters to be patient and bear with us whilst we discuss the situation with both the FA and Herefordshire Council.”