Hi all,

I think it’s important to keep you all updated at the football club. As much as the season has come to an end and we look forward to next season the work hasn’t stopped. I want to give you a breakdown of what’s been going on since the last game of the season.

So following the Boston game, I set up individual meetings with all players on the Thursday evening in Solihull. Can I just say as much as these decisions need to be made and ruthlessness needs to be at the forefront of my mind these meetings are not easy. I felt responsible for bringing each player into our strong circle and built up not only a professional relationship but also a personal one. That said I have a responsibility to you and the club to make the right decision. I offered each player a deal to continue with us next season but in a different structure to how we did this season. I was well aware of the risks that would bring but it’s something I had to do financially to get the best product for the football pitch. I want to make it clear the players who have signed again for next season have done so in a way that has helped the football club financially and that alone should be commended for the respect and honour they have and shows their commitment to not just me and my staff but also Hereford FC as a football club. Playing in front of you supporters is worth its weight in gold.

I then gave the players a respectful 7 days to go and chat with whoever they needed to and made it clear that for those 7 days we would not actively seek new additions. Those 7 days have passed and we are now in the market to strengthen in areas we feel we need to in a clever and stringent financial manner.

Those talks are well on their way and I have met players and continue to meet players this week and identify if they are the right characters to be brought into our football club. Hours upon hours of footage has been watched and my backroom staff have been a huge help in that respect as well. We managed to catch some play off games from the league above and below as well as our own play off games in our league. Players are now becoming available as retained lists are completed. Make no mistake we are not laid on a beach and enjoying the Tenerife sun (I wouldn’t wish the view of a pale easter egg on legs shaped body of a Scotsman on anyone) we are working tirelessly to improve the squad.

If you rewind back 1 year we had a club who had no identity on the pitch. No players. Disillusioned supporters. Disgruntled community. Little to no season tickets sold. A rookie manager. Almost. No football club. The unknown is scary for everyone. I took the opportunity with both hands and tried my very best to be a small part in resurrecting a football club. We made mistakes along the way and will continue to make mistakes but we hope we made you all proud watching your football club at Edgar Street in a fashion that epitomises the fan base.

Today I believe we have surpassed 500 season tickets sold. The board are constantly looking for schemes to help supporters. The membership scheme has gone down really well. We have a bulk of players already on board. Supporters are upbeat. Community and football club relations are growing stronger. Collectively our football club is looking stronger and the most important thing in any walk of life is a smile. We are smiling again. A positive infectious action that unites us all.

Finally as always a huge thank you. Please continue to get behind our boys and let’s stick together as we always have done and the more season tickets and supporters we get in through the turnstiles the more power and influence you can create on the pitch. Enjoy your summer and I will be in touch in the next few weeks.

Take Care and Keep Smiling…

Paul Caddis