Afternoon All,

I apologise for the lack of updates from myself as it’s been a busy few months and haven’t reached out to you since my last update before Christmas.

As always win lose or draw it’s important I am true to my word.

Update on injuries….

Preston Bitemo – recovering from a stress fracture in his back and with further medical advice we have got to the bottom of the issue and Preston is recovering well.

Lawson D’Ath – Lawson come off very early into the 2nd half against Southport and has been sent for a scan. We hope the results are not as bad as first feared.

Aaron Skinner – to see last season’s player of the year take to the pitch again yesterday was a brilliant moment for everyone. It’s been a really frustrating season for ‘Skins’ but he’s now on his way back to finding match fitness and will be an important player for us in the final months.

Moving forward we have 8 games in February (7 after yesterday) and a relentless Saturday Tuesday month and one we have to look forward to with optimism rather than any sort of negativity.

Is it ideal? Absolutely not, however it’s the reality of the division and we have to get on with it which we will with no excuses. Again I have great respect for the group of players we have and continuously juggling their full time jobs which is their livelihoods with part time football has to be admired.

I am absolutely sure our supporters would find it equally tough working all day and then expected to give everything every minute of every day listening to a demanding Scottish and Irishman on the side of the pitch.

Listening to a Scotsman and Irishman is probably the toughest part of that scenario but that’s beside the point!!!

Yesterday was another example of the character in our dressing room. Losing 1-0 to taking a 2-1 lead to then be pegged back in the game and find that character and fitness level and resilience to go again and get an important late winner.

I was told after the game it’s the first time the club has ever taken 6 points from a well established Brackley Town team in Hereford FC’s existence which is another milestone this group of players has ticked off in the last 18 months.

Our supporters were the key reason we found that extra lift to get that late winner and we are really grateful of that.

I made the decision to bring Levi Andoh back to the club on Thursday. Of course we are delighted he scored the winning goal yesterday but it’s also important to understand I brought Levi to the club because he’s a player that can improve us.

I understand the way things transpired at the end of his last spell at the club but there are always other factors to that and Levi has showed great personality and bravery to return.

I was immensely proud of him yesterday, and scoring that goal was more than just a goal for Levi having suffered some personal heartache so I think everyone shares my words when we say how proud we are of Levi and his family will be proud of him.

In football and in particular it seems to be the National League North, there are always moments of momentum. Momentum can swing both positively and negatively.

It’s my job to stay calm and not overreact to the negativity of not winning a few games and having trust in the group and my staff to stick to what we believe is the best method for our players. In the last few days we have picked up 6 points from 2 of the top 6 in form teams in our league and I want to reiterate again that we will have good times and we will have bad times. It’s easy in the good times to love everyone and think we are the best team in the world, but the best supporters stick with us in the bad times which on the whole you most definitely have.

Football is an emotional sport and we are all football experts whether we have played professionally or we have never kicked a football in anger. That’s why we all share a passion for the game we love because we all have different opinions on the outcome of games or the subs the manager makes or the team selection.

That is evident when I might analyse a game in a complete different way to what the opposing manager has or the 20 year lifelong supporter sitting in the Len Weston Stand at Edgar Street.

Our football club, and I feel I have earned the right to include myself as part of the club now, is unique.

We don’t have millions to throw at the squad and we don’t have a youth academy where we can sell players for millions of pounds. We are not an established football league side. That’s the reality.

However, we have a group of core loyal supporters that we are hoping to continuously grow. We have a fan owned football club with a board room full of lifelong Hereford supporters who are desperate for the club to make strides in a positive manner, while also looking after the greater interests of actually still having a football club in years to come.

We understand the frustrations fans feel at times because it’s exactly the same ones as myself as manager but also the chairman and board are feeling the same.

The reality is the board is trying to build a stable football club that can survive and progress in years to come from what was not a great place 18 months ago and they deserve huge credit for that.

We have moved a lot further forward in 18 months than what we probably expected and that rapid incline has found us in such a better place to start planning forward rather than repairing issues from years before. I can reassure supporters everyone at this great club is trying to move it forward and continue to make strides but in a careful, sensible and well-thought manner.

I want to finish off by thanking everyone for the support my players and staff have received in the 18 months of my first managerial role. The support has been incredible.

Continue to back the players and roar us over the line for the next few months. The players are honestly so appreciative of your backing home and away and when things don’t go well it’s never down to a lack of effort I can guarantee you that.

Stick together as always and bring the noise for the remainder of the season and we will do our best to send you home proud of your football club again.

Take Care

Paul Caddis