Turner's ambition is to refurbish the stadium

With the publication of the annual accounts last week showing the best results for many years, Graham Turner, the Hereford United manager, wrote about the situation off the pitch in his notes published in Bullseye last Saturday.

Again he referred to his ambition to refurbish the stadium at Edgar Street.

"We have already begun carrying out work on the dressing rooms, but that is only
the start. Spectator facilities have to be improved, things like toilets must be
rebuilt, but at present we must make sure that it is all part of the master plan
to rebuild both ends of the ground. We are already seeking estimates for
improving the floodlights, something that is urgently required.

Whilst saying that how the team performs is most important for the fans, he
stressed that other things must be put right and that needed investment.

"I know that we can work with our landlords, the Richardsons. I hope too that we
can work with the Council to ensure what we want is obtained and in a fairly
short time span."

The Richardsons appear to be the main company that "owns" the debt of £1 million.
Originally Chelverton were owed the loan but when they went into financial
difficulties, the debt was transferred to a partnership between Carillion and the
Richardson Brothers. Both companies are based in the West Midlands.

In last Thursday's Hereford Times, Richard Prime wrote that the Richardson Brothers had taken over the loan.

"Indications are that property developers, the Richardson Brothers, are willing
to stand by the club during redevelopment of the Edgar Street rather than press
for the loan repayment."

So who are the Richardson Brothers and what are they involved in?

It appears that their holding company is called Swiftfire Limited. The main
activity of the company is property development and the letting of business and
industrial premises. The head office is at Oldbury.

The company made over £11 milion in the last year for which results are available
and has net assets of around £127 million.

There appear to be three shareholders, the two Richardson Brothers and a Jersey
based concern, GJR Securities Ltd, in the company each owning one third of the
shares.

The Richardson Brothers, Donald and Roy, are beleived to be twins and are now 74
years old. They are best known for their developement of the Merryhill shopping
center at Dudley.

When leader of Herefordshire Council, Terry James remarked that they were a good
company to work with.

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