EXPERIENCED defender Dan Jones has left Hereford FC and moved to be closer to his family in Ireland.

The 34-year-old defender has impressed for the Bulls this season, but has been released to allow him to move to Dublin to be closer to family.

He told the club's official website HERE: “During the first lockdown my wife gave birth to our son who had a heart condition and to cut a long story short he had a couple of major operations and I just kept it under wraps.

“But he came through all of that and then with the lockdown and with everything going on my wife thought it was best to move back to Dublin to be next to her family, for the extra help and support.

"I stayed here and carried on training and playing, football was my release in a way and I put all my effort into playing.

“My son’s on a lot of medication but day by day he’s got stronger and stronger and he’s literally perfect now, I can’t believe how strong he is. I’m just delighted with him, he’s just come through everything leaps and bounds.

“But during the latest lockdown, I was just seeing my son on the videos my wife is sending me and I’m thinking I’m missing this, I should be there with him.

“Josh knew my son was poorly, I was going with my son for appointments and things, but I didn’t really let on how poorly he was. When I did tell Josh he was great and really supportive.

“I was really enjoying my football, I thought I was playing really well.

"Josh has been absolutely fantastic with me, he has said to me that the door is always open. I had a chat with all the boys before I left and I wished them all the best, they’ve been great too.

“I think there’s a good group of players there, a good mix of young and experienced lads.”

OTHER BULLS NEWS:

Hereford manager Josh Gowling signed Jones in the summer.

He added: “Dan has been a credit to himself and this club since he arrived and we’re really sad to see him go, but he’s a real family man and he needs to be with them, as a family man myself I totally understand.

“When we first signed Dan I knew his lad was ill, but Dan didn’t really let on exactly how ill he was straight away, he just focussed on his work.

"He trains hard and plays hard and he was a really positive influence in the dressing room.

"He would often stay late at training, putting the extra work in and helping the younger lads as well.

“We all love football, but family is the most important thing, and although we’d have loved Dan to stay, there was no way we could stand in his way.

"He’s made the right decision.”