HEREFORD FC are hopeful of announcing season ticket prices next week after finally signing the leases today.

Chairman Jon Hale was given the keys to Edgar Street and is already setting the gears in motion to get bums on seats come August.

"We are hoping to get those out very quickly in the hope we can get the club shop open as an office so people can come and engage again with the ground and buy their season tickets," said Hale.

"Hopefully we'll have a bit of merchandise too - it will be great to see the Hereford FC badge being worn around the county.

"I would hope early to middle of next week, we will have the season ticket prices out.

"What we would love to do is sell 500 season tickets and tell the FA how well we are selling them and what great support we've got behind us because that would no doubt help us in our application for what level we go back in at."

Hale says the club has budgeted for around 230 season ticket sales and will continue to be cautious regarding the finances, but understands that some supporters would expect them to race back through the leagues.

"I think there is an expectancy there but what we've got to do is manage that because it's not going to be a magic wand," said Hale.

"We've got to work at and get the club financially right and involve the supporters and community.

"Of course we want to push the club on in terms of trying them through the leagues, but we don't want to set our stall out and say that is going to happen because football isn't like that and we're not going into it with that smokescreen."

Interviews have already started as the club search for their first manager, which will continue into next week.

Jimmy Harvey, who played 278 games for Hereford United between 1980 and 1987, was not even considered for an interview, disappointing the ex-Morecambe and Forest Green boss.

But Hale believes the candidates that have been shortlisted do have the right credentials in order to help the club achieve their goals.

"I think the people we have got and are interviewing certainly match what we are looking for," said Hale.

"It's fairly obvious that we are going in at a level that you need some experience in and knowledge of and ideally someone who plays the game in the right way.

"There's a lot of criteria that we've discussed and that's reflected in the people that we're interviewing.

"It's a spread out process in terms of when people are being interviewed.

"That process goes into early next week and then they may well be a second round of interviews.

"I can't say there is an appoitment immenent because there is not and we're not rushing ourselves to make it.

"So we haven't really set ourselves a timetable for that, we'll just see how things go and develop and at some point we will be ready to name a manager and let everyone know."

The main work requiired at Edgar Street is electrical and water works in order for a safety certificate to be granted.

But Hale believes the actual stands look 'in good nick'.

"Quite a bit of it is work for professionals, but there's obviously some cosmetic work to come in terms of painting and scrubbing to make the place loved again.

"Under the stands, there's rubbish about and mess to sort out, but generally, it's in pretty good nick in terms of the stands.

"Once we get that done, we can really look forward to watching football again."

Herefordshire Council announced at the end of February that Hereford FC were their preferred choice as to who should become Edgar Street's new tenure.

Hale said that it has been frustrating at times, but is elated that the leases have been finalised.

"It was never going to be a quick process because you're talking about a lease that's a legal document and solicitors involved," said Hale.

"There were two sides that want the very best for their own side, so there was some frustrations along the way in terms of getting the lease right for the football club, but we've got there and I'm delighted with that.

"I put on record my appreciation to Herefordshire Council for accommodating us and putting everything in place in time for the Football Association's deadline which is Tuesday.

"We're just delighted that we've done the deal.

"It feels like a long journey, but it's obviously hasn't been that long since December.

"But it's been a long time in terms of getting to the position we were at to be able to completed.

"I'm just elated for everybody because as soon as we can get everybody back into this ground and put smiles back on faces, the better.

"I can't wait for that moment for everyone because we've been through so much as Hereford fans.

"It's been a really hard period of time and was absolute heartbreak.

"But standing here, it's a brilliant feeling and I can't wait for everyone to get in."