HEREFORD United have the rare luxury of a Saturday off tomorrow.

They are without a game after their scheduled home Nationwide Conference fixture with Rushden and Diamonds was brought forward to September.

The rest will come as a welcome relief to Director of Football Graham Turner and his players, who have rarely had time to sit down and take stock in a hectic programme this season, what with their memorable FA Cup run as well.

The estimated £200,000 they will have made on the Cup run following their two ties against Premiership side Leicester City will certainly come in handy over the next two months, when the Bulls are scheduled to play only two home Conference matches.

Turner said: "Without the revenue we received from our FA Cup ties, financially it would have been a very worrying two months.

"We must now aim for a successful run in the Trophy, while the chase for the Conference title is still wide open with only 15 points separating the top and the 19th-placed team."

United's next action is their FA Umbro Trophy third round tie at Ryman League Premier Division side Billericay Town next Saturday.

Turner has had the Essex side watched and said: "Having had FA Cup ties against three higher-graded opponents, it will be a reverse situation for us at Billericay who will fancy their chances of knocking us out on their own ground."

Meanwhile, defender Paul Sturgess is likely to have to withdraw from the FA representative side to take on the Combined Services at Worcester City's St George's Lane ground on Monday.

The former Charlton and Millwall player damaged knee ligaments in Monday's 1-1 draw at Kidderminster Harriers and could face several weeks on the sidelines.

Skipper Ian Wright and striker Paul Fewings are the Bulls' two other representatives in the FA squad.