Hereford United's players returned for pre-season training this week, striving to work hard ahead of the new Nationwide Confer-ence campaign, which kicks off on August 9.

The Bulls coach Richard O'Kelly said: "This is where it all starts for us. The friendly games are coming up but they are a means to an end - and the end is getting it right for the opening day at Tamworth. We are very happy with the group of players we have so far, and we can now focus on getting things right."

Striker Steve Guinan has had keyhole surgery on a minor knee problem over the closed season and is doing some rehabilitation work for the first week.

Meanwhile, Hereford United's annual meeting last Friday reported a loss of £21,670 in the year to May 31 2002, compared with a loss of £108,913 in the year to May 2001.

United chairman Graham Turner, the director of football, now hopes that the annual meeting for the year ending May 2003 can take place this year.

"We have straightened out the accounts for the last financial year and we aim to hold the annual meeting in the next two to three months," he said.

Phil Cleeton is the new chairman of the Hereford United Vice-Presidents' Club, replacing Richard Howard, who stepped down after four years at the annual meeting on Monday.

The club, which has 55 paid-up members, raised a total of £21,000 for United over the past year from bar takings, subscriptions and fund-raising activities.