Turner - It's great to be back in the Football League

Graham Turner has spoken of the future. This article by Mark Bowering of PA Sport:

Graham Turner has boldly stated his Hereford side can emulate the likes of Carlisle and Southend to achieve back-to-back promotions and even push for a place in the Coca-Cola Championship.

The Bulls ended a nine-year exile from the Football League with a 3-2 extra-time victory over Halifax in the Conference play-off final at the Walkers Stadium.

Goals from Andy Williams, Guy Ipoua and Ryan Green's impressive winner eventually sunk the Shaymen and left Turner predicting promising times at Edgar Street.

The 58-year-old, also the club's chairman, said: "I've always maintained that well-run clubs of our size could get into the Championship.

"It's become more difficult in recent years, but clubs like Southend and Colchester prove that it can be done.

"The Championship is a hell of a strong league and those two clubs have got to compete but it's an example to clubs like ours of what can be done if you run the club properly.

"There have also been some success stories in recent years with teams like Doncaster, Carlisle and Yeovil going up from the Conference and building on promotion.

"We would hope the momentum can keep us going and the winning habit and feeling the players have got from getting promoted can keep us going into next season.

"But we know that won't just happen and we have got to strengthen."

Under Turner's astute leadership, Hereford have overcome major financial problems and ground ownership issues to return to the Football League after relegation to the Conference was confirmed with a 1-1 draw against Brighton in May 1997.

Despite guiding Wolves to league and cup success in a nine-year spell in charge at Molineux, Turner insists masterminding the revival at Edgar Street ranks highly in his managerial achievements.

"I can recall the day we went down against Brighton and the day was full of despair," added Turner, set to celebrate his 12th year in charge at Hereford in August.

"I've never known such emotion in football.

"Probably distance lends a bit of forgetfulness because I've been to Wembley with Wolves with 80,000 fans and they were great days.

"But under the circumstances this is as big as anything I've done, possibly because of my involvement as chairman and major shareholder as well.

"Possibly it has been put right now what went wrong on that day against Brighton."

He added: "What's also intriguing for us now is that we've also got six local derbies to look forward to.

"We've got clubs the size of Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Chester, Walsall. All that will help swell the coffers when you have games of that magnitude.

"It's great to be back in the Football League."

---