NEXT HOME GAME - TBC
NEXT AWAY GAME - SUPPORTERS XI ARE PLAYING WORCESTER AT MALVERN ON SUNDAY AUGUST 3rd AT 3.00pm

Friday, May 23, 2014

SD's Kevin Rye On H&W


Supporters Direct spokesman Kevin Rye spoke to Howard & Toni on BBC Hereford & Worcester's Breakfast Show this morning.

After a piece from Trevor Owens outlining the delays in an expected announcement, Rye was asked if it was unusual for a manager (Martin Foyle) to bring a winding-up petition against his former employers: "It is if he's owed money and he's sick of not being paid, to be frank."

"I don't think anyone is desperately surprised. I have sympathy with the Hereford United fans and I have sympathy with Martin Foyle. I have no sympathy with the Directors of Hereford United."

Asked about his assessment of the situation at Edgar Street, Rye added: "It's a slow moving car crash. I think the first time I spoke to you and said I'd thought we'd seen the end of them but this one is incredible that it's still going on and that there are creditors still coming out and saying they haven't been paid. 

"And now it's the manager who left. I'm incredulous that this is still going on and the Directors are still issuing statements saying they are confident they will pay it. If they're in this position now, what does that indicate for the preparations for the pre-season because if you haven't even started to think of next season, when some clubs are signing players, I don't know what's going to happen following it - even how they're going to settle the debt for the Conference with the AGM."

Howard Bentham mentions the June 6th AGM date, and asks about a potential Bond requirement from the Conference: "It has happened in a couple of places but, to be honest, if they're scrapping around over paying a manager now and there's a deal in place, they have to prepare for next season. Assuming they do pay all the debts in full as required by the Conference, they do have to ensure the club is in a fit state to start the season.

"That requires a squad of players, a manager who is happy. All of these things have to be done. This isn't like opening a shop, in a rush, for a sale. This is a football club having to compete on the pitch across the club. If it's not prepared - not ready - then putting down bonds becomes slightly irrelevant.

"And the fans, and the community, have to have confidence in the football club. From where I am, and I'm not involved in this day to day, I wouldn't have any confidence at this moment in time that the club is going to compete adequately.

"Frankly this is desperately unfair to the supporters and the wider community, and every bit of the behaviour of the Directors looks like they're not even thinking about the people who are actually going to sustain that club for the season coming. 

"All they're concerned about is solving the problem they've created. They are responsible at the end, and that's legally a fact. So it's a horrible mess we're having to watch here."