Hereford United began their pre-season training yesterday but without a senior goalkeeper after Matt Baker left the club to sign for Coca Cola League One Wrexham.

Baker, United's first choice for the last three seasons, has been one of the Conference's top goalkeepers in recent times and an automatic selection for the England National Game Xl.

He is unlikely, however, to start the season as first choice at the Racecourse Ground as former Manchester City goalkeeper Andy Dibble is the current holder of the number one shirt.

But the 39-year-old Dibble, who started with Cardiff in 1982 when Baker was just two, is nearing the end of a distinguished career and the former Bulls man evidently considers he will not be warming the substitutes' bench for long.

Baker made 142 appearances for United and was an ever-present during the last two seasons. His first major impact was in the televised FA Cup first-round tie with Wrexham in the 2001-2 season.

"I hope to have a replacement in by early next week," said United's director of football Graham Turner, who still has Baker's deputy, Ben Scott, on the staff. "There are a lot of goalkeepers out there still looking for clubs as I've discovered over the last few days."

The Hereford players reported back for training yesterday with Turner joined by his new coach John Trewick as the squad went through their paces at Belmont.

"It's a new challenge coming here and working with a first team again," said Trewick. "I had a comfortable, solid and secure job at Wolves, looking after the under-17 side, and I could have stayed there.

"But I have been in football all my working life and security is not high on my list of priorities."

Trewick explained that his football philosophy is similar to that of his predecessor Richard O'Kelly, with whom he worked at West Bromwich Albion.

"I like to see the side passing the ball with good movement and creating chances," he said.

"You have to get the players enjoying their work and feeling comfortable with the style of play."