More from Turner about Blackfriars Development

Graham Turner has given a long interview to Trevor Owens, sports editor of BBC Hereford and Worcester, about the proposed Blackfriars End development.

"I met with our architects a week ago to get a rough idea whether it was feasible, what it would cost," said the Hereford United chairman.

"We've also had conversations with the council and the Richardsons, our landlords, to get permission from them.

"The design of the covered terrace would be that it will take future development commercially as and when the Richardsons come up with the right ideas.

"It's something we had to do with the closing of the Blackfriars End. Twelve years have gone on and nothing has happened there. So we have taken the initative ourselves.

"We have made some enquiries at the Football Foundation about the availability of grants. Obviously the football club itself has got to finance the rest. We feel we can do that without taking too many risks.

"It will be initially 2,000. There will be disabled facilities and toilets, new toilet blocks, canteen facilities. We will probably leave the turnstiles and the perimeter walls as they stand at the moment just to keep the cost down bearing in mind that sometime there will be some commercial development.

"The new terrace will be built as close to the goal-line as possible and I would think it will create an area right close to the action"

Turner revealed that the new 'End' could be converted to seating if required.

Owens asked Turner if he could say how much the 'End' might cost.

"Not yet. We've got further meetings next week with the architects.

"The frustrating part for me now will be waiting to get some action.

"Planning applications could take up to 13 weeks, although with the co-operation of the council I am sure we can get that down.

"Grant applications to the Football Foundation can take up to 20 weeks and that is after detailed planning consent.

"I will be delighted when we see that first bulldozer and crane go in there to start the demolition job. The state of the ground has been an embarrassment for a long time."

Turner went on to talk more about the Football Foundation.

"If we had been in the Football League five years ago then we would have been entitled to up to £2 million but, because we have been promoted since then, we are only allowed three-quarters of a million and that is for total development of the ground.

"So there will be a percentage of the cost of the new terracing. I believe it won't be far off fifty percent we can get it grants as we beleive at the present time."

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