Good morning,

It’s been just short of 2 weeks since I last reached out and there is no denying all the positivity that has come from you as supporters since then. The Squad Builder has been bubbling away remarkably well, season ticket sales are on the rise compared to last season and the membership scheme has been a really big hit.

I absolutely understand your frustration with the lack of activity of late and I want to explain to you what’s been going on in the last 10 to14 days. I think over the last year you have seen I won’t just talk for the sake of talking and I won’t fill you with what I think you want to hear. I respect you as supporters and people and will give you an honest assessment of where we are at.

The season ahead will see the most competitive National League North to date with the most full-time teams the division has ever had – to my knowledge – and a couple working towards the ‘hybrid model’.

I still stand by saying we are a huge club at this level in terms of support in the stands and what you can offer compared to most clubs at our level. No-one can match your support and that is a non negotiable in all my talks with players.

We have a Chairman and a Board of Directors who are working tirelessly to drive a sustainable football club and improving facilities and the prestigious Edgar Street stadium and rest assured, you have a group of supporters making incredibly tough decisions with the longevity of Hereford FC at the forefront of their minds in the boardroom. We have seen the sad demise of Coalville Town – who we wish all the best with their future plans lower down the pyramid – and that’s a reminder what can happen to clubs at this level.

Let me give you an insight into my work the past few weeks, but I will give the respect to the players I have sat down and spoke with and not name names.

We have had 5 players in the last 14 days that we think we’ve been close to, only for the last minute decision by the player(s) or the agent to be swayed by a greater financial offer at our level and, in 3 cases, a lower level to National League North.

I will never criticise a man for doing the best for his family. Is it frustrating? Absolutely it is, however that’s the reality. We can’t offer full time football or accommodation to players or full time wages on a part time budget. I know what I can offer and I know what you can offer and we won’t be making the same mistakes previously at this football club across the years and be held to ransom by players or agents.

We are Hereford FC and we are bigger than any player or agent. I have a group of players signed already who have showed an unbelievable duty of care and loyalty to you and I won’t disrupt that group with players who are not willing to give the same level of care and loyalty to their team-mates.

Rest assured we are having to work twice as hard and twice as long as others and that’s exactly what me and my staff are doing. We will have a committed group of men on the football pitch come the first game of the season that will replicate the committed fan base we have at our club. Again, I understand this time of the year is all about signings and excitement and I am genuinely upset I couldn’t provide you more to date, but it’s the long game I’m looking at and not the short game.

I am sure in weeks to come you will understand all this in a clearer picture when we have players over the line. We are an attractive club and I’d rather a player who wants to be here to play for you supporters, than a player who wants to earn an extra coin or two.

Let me finish by saying I appreciate your patience and I also really do appreciate you’ve been asked a lot financially of late and I cannot put into words what that means to the wider football club. We will rise together as a whole football club come 10th August for the first game of the season and that is worth more than any bonus payment, accommodation or enhanced salary!!

I will be in touch again in a few weeks as we build up to the players return to pre-season training!

Take Care,

Paul Caddis