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Lincoln Bull has warned Bulls fans of the following roadworks:
If you are travelling from the shire tomorrow to Lincoln, be aware that they are dualling the A46 from south of Nottingham all the way to Newark. This is in total about a 20 mile stretch that has been dropped to a 40mph limit. In places you are using parts of the new road around new roundabouts, but most of it is still on the old single carriageway. It will be a slow journey on this part of the route though.
Remember to enter the Bulls News Prediction League this weekend when Hereford United travel to Sincil Bank to face Lincoln City.
Entry is simple. Send in your final score and attendance predictions to bullsnewspredictions@hotmail.co.uk. Remember to include your username.
The deadline for tomorrow's match is at 2.30pm. Should you wish, you can send your Shrewsbury predictions too.
Lincoln have released financial information to their shareholders showing that the club lost nearly £200,000 in the year to the end of June 2010.
The £199,257 loss means the Imps now have over £3.4million of debt on their books, with that figure likely to increase if their current on-field woes continue.
The accounts cite a change of management, falling gates, and a lack of investment for the loss - all things that have already occured this term - and that the losses were only stemmed by an FA Cup run and subsequent TV money.
The Imps disposed of Northwich on TV last season before travelling to Bolton for a Third Round game, with the hopes of a similar financial boost pinned on facing the Bulls in a week for a shot at a big draw, while gates at Sincil Bank are down by 17% so far this season.
Hereford United set up for Lincoln earlier this morning but are to take in a training stop at Nottingham Forest.
"Nottingham Forest have kindly let us use their academy training ground up there so we can train up there on the way," said manager Jamie Pitman as reported by the Hereford United Official Website.
"It'll be a nice change of venue for us so hopefully the lads will get something out of training there and by us travelling up on Friday."
Not for the first time this week the dream team of Pitman and Russell Hoult have proven they have plenty of contacts in the game.
Port Vale have released teenage striker Anthony Malbon by mutual consent. The 19 year old played three times after coming through the youth ranks. Torquay have rejected an offer from a League One side for striker Elliott Benyon. The 23 year old has nine goals so far this season, but the offer wasn't enough for the Gulls to sell.
Oxford are to loan midfielder Rob Deering to Newport until January. The teenager had a similar spell at Spytty Park last season. Shrewsbury have loaned teenage defender Harry Hooman to Hinckley for a month. The 19 year old played four times for the Shrews last term but has not featured this season.
Darlington have completed the signing of former Premier League winger Keith Gillespie. Luton have signed Barrow striker Jason Walker on loan ahead of a permanent January transfer. The fee is undisclosed but reported to be over £50,000. Dave Penney has been installed as favourite to be the new manager at Mansfield. The Stags new owner is based in Doncaster and sponsored Rovers while Penney was boss there.
Former Bulls striker John Grant has finally found a new club, signing for Barrow. He is said to have turned down three other Conference sides.
Whilst most bookmakers haven't changed their odds on a Hereford win at Lincoln tomorrow, one company, Victor Chandler, is bucking the trend by offering 12/5, up from 2/1, on a win for the Bulls.
Latest Odds from SkyBet:
Hereford 9/4 Draw 23/10 Lincoln 6/5
Totesport, Betfred, Victor Chandler, Ladbrooks and Coral are all offering 12/5 on a draw.
Best price for a 1-0 win for the Bulls is 17/2 with SkyBet, Betfred and Extrabet.
A 2-0 win for the Bulls is 16/1 at SkyBet and William Hill.
A 2-1 win for the Bulls is 12/1 with SkyBet.
A 0-0 draw is 9/1 at various outlets.
A 1-1 draw is 6/1 at BlueSq, 888sport and William Hill.
A 2-2 draw is 16/1 at SkyBet and William Hill.
For first goalscorer in the game Guillem Bauza (assuming he is deemed fit) is 15/2 at several bookies.
Stuart Fleetwood is also 15/2 but only at BlueSq and 888sport.
Mathieu Manset can be backed at 8/1 at Bet 365 and Victor Chandler. Sean Canham is 9/1 at Ladbrooks.
Nicky Featherstone is 11/1 at Bet365 whilst Rob Purdie is 14/1 with Bet 365 and Victor Chandler.
As an outside bet new loan signing Bryon Webster is 25/1 with Ladbrooks.
All prices from oddschecker.com
Hereford United's Jamie Pitman is relishing the chance to pit his wits against his former manager Graham Turner at Shrewsbury next Tuesday.
"Turner will have had us watched and will, I hope, be telling his players that we are hard-working, well-organised and pass the ball well," Pitman told the Hereford Times.
"I like to think that’s where we’re at currently although, of course, we know that we need to improve.
"I worked with Graham for a long time and have drawn a fair bit – his work-rate, his commitment, his passion, some of the things that he does in training – into my own management style.
"I spent a lot of time with him and have the utmost respect for him.
"It will be strange to see Graham, John Trewick and Tony Ford on the opposition bench. I shall have to be careful that I don’t get confused and go and sit with them!
"But, seriously, it’s going to be a great experience for me and I shall enjoy every minute of it.
"Graham knows that I’m competitive and want to win the game. He will be exactly the same – he’ll be desperate to win it."
The Hereford Times has produced a podcast containing interviews with, amidst others, Ricky George, Keith Hall, Richard Prime and Dixie McNeil.
The podcast includes a look back at recent games and look forward to the forthcoming games at Lincoln and Shrewsbury. In particular there is quite of lot of content about Mathieu Manset. And they are still talking about whether Jamie Pitman should have been appointed just until the New Year. And why Simon Davey was such a failure.
Quite a lot of interesting comment but perhaps a little long.
The Conference has announced that its member clubs have paid off over around 75% of the debts they owe to the taxman over the past year.
On introducing a Financial Reporting Initiative, designed to keep a check on clubs' spending, 12 months ago the member clubs owed the taxman £1.6million for PAYE, VAT, and National Insurance. The figure owed is now under £400,000.
Despite this another club has issued a warning over its immediate future. Redditch United, where the Bulls currently have Sam Malsom out on loan, have told supporters they urgently need £30,000 after falling behind on payment plans covering older debts. They blame the matter on having had just seven home games so far this season, far fewer than expected, and will meet supporters on Monday to discuss the club's future.
In other Conference news, Mansfield have sacked manager David Holdsworth after a run of just one win in eight games. The 42 year old was touted as a potential Bulls managerial candidate in the summer, but won just 37 of 90 games in charge.
Hereford United manager Jamie Pitman has said that young striker Mathieu Manset is still learning.
Manset arrived at Edgar Street last season after being recommended by former Bull Guy Ipoua.
"He's got everything that you want in that he's left footed, strong, powerful and he has got tricks," Pitman told BBC Hereford & Worcester.
"He just needs to be a little bit more composed in front of goal but everyone has to realise that he is still young.
"He is still learning and has only played in the British game for a year-and-a-half so it is a learning curve for him as well."
Pitman feels that one day Manset could play at a higher level but he needs to work even harder.
"He should want more out of himself as as he's that good he could potentially play at a high level," said Pitman.
"He needs to keep doing it constantly throughout the whole game."
The Bulls make the cross-country trip to Sincil Bank to face Lincoln City in a League Two match on Saturday.
It's been three years since the Bulls got anything out of their trips to the Imps. The four matches in the past two seasons have gone to the home side both at Edgar Street and Sincil Bank, with February 2007's 4-1 win coming largely thanks to a Steve Guinan hat-trick. Two players from each side survive from that game, with Rob Purdie and Richard Rose both featuring for the Bulls.
The Imps have become harder to beat under new boss Steve Tilson, but they are finding scoring goals a struggle at home. Albert Jarrett's 90th minute winner against Nuneaton in the FA Cup was their first home goal in three games, with the Bulls putting nine goals past the two League sides the Imps faced. Former Bull Gavin McCallum has started only one League game so far this season and is yet to score for his new side. Top scorer is Celtic loan forward Ben Hutchinson with three.
The Bulls travel with another defensive shuffle likely for only the third away game of Jamie Pitman's managerial career. He's had six home matches but only two away thanks to some kind cup draws, but he'll be happy to continue the form with nine goals in two games and an unlikely comeback already chalked up. Mathieu Manset now has six goals in six games and has overtaken last season's total, with Saturday likely to be his 50th appearance in a Bulls shirt.
Lincoln City vs Hereford United, Sincil Bank, Saturday 20th November, 3.00pm.
Hereford United's latest loan signing Bryon Webster, pictured whilst with Bury, appears to be in need of match practice. He recently made his first full start for Doncaster after a lay-off of eight months.
Webster broke a metatarsal in training at the start of February and it's been a slow recovery. Previously he had an elbow ligament injury which kept him out for three months.
After that first game for Doncaster for eight months Webster spoke to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
"It was my first 90 minutes since I don't know when; a long, long time and it was good to get a game under my belt.
"It's been frustrating. I did my metatarsal in February and I was hoping it was going to heal naturally. But it still wasn't 100 per cent and I had to have a pin put in the metatarsal.
"I then thought I'd be ready for preseason, but I had a few setbacks.
"But I've been training now for quite a few weeks and had a 60-minute game a few weeks ago.
"Injuries come along in football. Before I came to Doncaster, I didn't have any whatsoever and then I got two in the space of a season and with two operations.
"There's nothing like match fitness, definitely. You can do as much training as you want and I've been working really hard with Ross (Burbeary), our fitness coach and the physios. But it's been about about managing the injury and not doing too much afterwards, so I didn't get a reaction."
Centre-half Byron Webster has joined the Bulls from Doncaster on a one month loan deal according to the Hereford Times.
Again this deal shows that Jamie Pitman and Russell Hoult, who are in charge at Edgar Street, have contacts.
Former Hereford United coach Richard O'Kelly is assistant manager at Doncaster.
Here's a short profile from the Doncaster OS.
Byron Webster joined Doncaster Rovers from FK SIAD Most in August 2009, following a summer trial in which he impressed manager Sean O'Driscoll.
A towering centre back, 6'5'' Webster's reading of the game is superb, despite still being in his early twenties.
Born in Leeds, Webster learned his trade at Leeds United before moving on to York City. However it was in the Czech Republic that Webster was able to develop his physicality in the central defensive role, which has stood him in good stead in The Championship.
UPDATE 12.45pm: Hereford United have confirmed the loan deal.
"We are looking to improve the squad all the time and Byron will give us extra strength and cover in defence. We've had a few injury problems too and with some important games coming up it's good to have a player like this coming in," said manager Jamie Pitman.
Meanwhile according to the HT Ryan Valentine is a doubt for Saturday's match at Lincoln.
"Ryan Valentine has to see a specialist about a stomach problem which has been troubling him so he may miss out," said Pitman
Former Bulls keeper Michael Ingham helped Conference side York beat Rotherham 3-0 in one of tonight's FA Cup replays.
Fellow ex-Bull Leon Constantine was left on the bench as the Minstermen hit three late second half goals to end the Millers' hopes. In the other game ex-Bulls Chris Mackenzie and Phil Gulliver turned out for Corby, but they lost 4-2 at Luton after playing much of the game with ten men with striker Nathan Jarman dismissed.
The Bulls squad will take a break from action tomorrow to spend an afternoon at Hereford races.
The club are sponsoring the 3.30 race, a suitably graded Novices Steeplechase considering the man currently picking the side. It is the most valuable race of the day but just three runners contest it. The favourite is a French horse that is a regular scorer but fell when clear last time out. The outsider, wearing the ever-popular orange away kit, hasn't won in 12 outings.
It's interesting to note that, of the other six races on the card, five are sponsored by Lindley Catering. The much derided food seller remains the caterer of choice at the Racecourse despite being dumped from their deal at Edgar Street.
Sheff Weds have been given 28 days by the courts to complete a takeover of the club. The court told the club they were trading insolvently and that a further extension past the 28 days would be unlikely. ITV have picked Swindon Supermarine's match at Colchester for extended highlights for the second round of the FA Cup.
Rotherham striker Adam Le Fondre has halted talks with the club over a contract extension. The 16 goal striker's agent says there is no need to extend his deal past the 18 months currently left. Port Vale have announced that they are to hold talks with a US based investor on Friday.
Former Bulls striker Alan Connell is 'not for sale' after a number of Championship sides were claimed to be watching the Grimsby man.
Connell, 27, signed a two year deal at Blundell Park in the summer and will not be sold in the January window, after scoring 14 times in 19 games, according to chairman John Fenty despite the club's losses over the last few seasons.
Fenty told a fans forum that the club had spent over £200,000 paying off players contracts over the last few seasons as a succession of managers failed to get the Mariners up into League One. They are expected to add to that sum with the despatch of keeper Nick Colgan, who Fenty confirmed had been frozen out of the club and would not play again.
BBC pundit Steve Claridge has said that he thinks Hereford might just nick next Saturday's League Two game at Lincoln.
"Lincoln at home to Hereford. This looks on the face of it's a six-pointer.
"Actually the two teams are in fairly good nick.
"Hereford have gone six games unbeaten and have shown they are more than capable, on their day, of getting out of problems.
"Amazing games, incredible come-backs and at times have looked very very good going forward.
"Lincoln, under Steve Tilson, have now got a manager who is well versed at this level. He's had success with Southend. Good result for them in the FA Cup.
"Although both these sides are languishing in the bottom four, the two sides aren't in bad form.
"Hereford have shown they can go away and score an awful lot of goals at times.
"I'm going to go for 2-1 to Hereford. I'm going to go for Hereford to just nick this one."
It's some time since Hereford United have played Stoke City and probably even longer since a reserve team from Hereford travelled to the Potteries for a friendly.
So credit for arranging yesterday's friendly probably should be given to Russell Hoult, who came to Edgar Street as a goalkeeping coach and is now care-taker manager Jamie Pitman's right hand man.
Hoult is well known at Stoke. He moved there from West Bromwich Albion early in 2007 and stayed with them until the end of the 2007/08 season. No doubt he would have some contacts at the club which may have come in handy to arrange yesterday's friendly and perhaps, should a suitable player become available, a loan deal.
In their report of the game the Sentinel mentioned that Hoult was in the dug-out 'in typically chirpy mood.'
Not for the first time since Pitman and Hoult took over yesterday proved they have contacts in the game and are able to put them to good use.
ITV's dream FA Cup tie of old Wimbledon vs new Wimbledon won't happen after the franchise side fell out of the FA Cup on penalties to Stevenage.
The Boro will now face either AFC Wimbledon or Ebbsfleet in ITV's live Second Round match after a goal in the fifth minute of injury time from Darius Charles kept the League Two side in it for extra time. They won 7-6 on penalties to take the second round spot from tonight's replay.
In the other FA Cup replays tonight Aldershot overcame Brentford 1-0, Barnet lost 1-0 at Charlton, and Stockport lost 4-1 at Peterboro. Port Vale beat Dartford 4-0, and Macclesfield overcame Southend on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
There were no non-league upsets with Cambridge, Vauxhall Motors, Fleetwood, and Woking all losing - although the Cards took Brighton all the way to penalties.
Tomorrow Luton face Corby, while Rotherham travel to York. AFC Wimbledon face Ebbsfleet on ESPN on Thursday.
Hereford United can be backed at 9/4 to defeat Lincoln on Saturday. However this price is only available with SkyBet and BetFred.
Most other bookmakers are offering 2/1 or slightly less for a win by the Bulls.
Latest Odds from SkyBet:
Hereford United 9/4 Draw 23/10 Lincoln 6/5
Both Totesport and Ladbrooks are offering a better price of 12/5 for a draw.
Sheff Weds are expected to ask the court for another 14 days when they face the taxman over an unpaid £600,000 bill. They have four bidders in the running for the club but, due to the sheer amount of debt involved, no one party has reached full agreement. Crewe keeper Steve Phillips says he will be happy to go out on loan to get first team football. He is currently unable to get into the starting XI after shoulder surgery.
Northampton have seen their appeal over Abdul Osman's red card at the weekend succeed. Bradford have also managed to get Tommy Doherty's ban dropped from three games to one, but Accrington have lost their appeal against Peter Murphy's red card at the weekend and he will serve a three match ban. Stanley have extended the loan of Burnley defender Kevin Long for a second month.
Kettering have sacked keeper Nathan Abbey for gross misconduct. The 32 year old has racked up 16 clubs in 10 years since coming through the ranks at Luton. FC United of Manchester have had their plans for a new stadium approved by the local council, who will now put the matter out for consultation. They want to be out of Bury's Gigg Lane ground as early as 2012.
Lincoln City v Hereford United
Football League 2
Saturday 20th November 2010 KO 3.00pm
Sincil Bank Stadium
Lincoln
LN5 8LD
Phone 01522 880011
Lincoln City were formed in 1884 and have always played their football in the lower leagues including dipping their toes into the Conference in season 87/88. They have also had their financial ups and downs but currently find themselves stranded in 21st at this stage of the seasons League 2 campaign – exactly the same position as when we visited last season. Lincoln City has a long history of fan-assisted ground improvements with most of the early stands, terraces and floodlights being provided by supporters’ contribution.
Sincil Bank became an all-seated stadium at the beginning of 1999/2000 season with a capacity of over 10,000 making it arguably one of the better facilities in the Division. Visiting fans are accommodated in part of the Co-Op Community Stand to one side of the pitch where admission for adults is £18 (£16 in advance), concessions £13(£12) and U15s £7(£6). Concessions apply to over 60's, students aged 16 or 17 in full time education and the disabled. Advance tickets are available through the HUFC offices until noon on Friday.
BY CAR – To Worcester then M5 north, M42 and continue onto the A42 joining the A453 just before the M1. Follow signs for Nottingham, then for A52 (Grantham) and then join the A46 (sign Newark). Follow the A46 into Lincoln (which leads in to the High Street). Sincil Bank is well signposted from the city centre. Parking is either in the streets around the ground or on the "South Common" which is a five-minute-walk from the ground. Alternatively, follow the signs for "away coaches" to South Park Avenue, which is a ten-minute walk from the ground. Postcode is LN5 8LD. Distance is approx. 155 miles so you should allow around three and a half hours.
HUISA – departs from Radford's at 8.30am with a fare of £19 (non-members £21). Seats can be booked through The Club office during normal hours (08442 761939).
FUNBUS - departs from Radford's at 9.00 am (as soon as everyone is on board).
REFRESHMENTS. The Supporters club at the ground (The Trust Suite) located at the south end of the ground does admit visiting fans and serves a mean hot pork roll and well as Mansfield Smooth whilst the best bet for a “proper” pint is without doubt The Golden Eagle in High Street. The George and Dragon and The City Vaults have also received recommendations as has The Portland down Sincil Bank some 800 yards from the ground while the local ‘Spoons is The Ritz on the High Street. Inside the ground, the refreshments are good with the usual hot drinks and pies along with Lincolnshire sausages and bacon rolls.
Photo from stadiums.football.co.uk
COYB.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that a Bulls team lost 5-0 to a strong Stoke side this afternoon in a behind closed doors practice match intended to give some much needed action to those players not currently featuring in the League 2 side.
Players believed to have taken part include Heister, Gwynne, Werling, Thomes, Evans, Malsom, Stratford and Canham along with a number from the youth set-up.
The Stoke side is understood to have included Eidur Gudjohnson and Salif Diao.
Membership applications are now being taken for the London Bulls supporters club.
Organiser Nick Vaughan has arranged discounted tickets and merchandise for members, as well as organising social events throughout the year.
Full details, and the application form, are on the official site here.
A little more information has been made public about Simon Davey's mobile phone bill which had been disputed by former employers Darlington.
Whilst still working for Darlington, Davey went to the USA after the end of last season for a coaching course.
During his time there he ran up an 'extortionate' bill for his phone and later tried to claim the costs back from Darlington.
It now appears that he is to receive around £700 from Darlington towards his costs. However Davey's claim was somewhat higher and the judge at the tribunal held in Manchester decided only to allow a part of it.
Towards the end of his stay in the USA Davey e-mailed Darlington to say he was leaving the club and later joined Hereford United.
Lincoln City manager Steve Tilson has said that he needs to bring a loanee defender ahead of Saturday's game against Hereford United.
Yesterday it was confirmed that the Imps would be without Moses Swaibu after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.
This morning Tilson has said that Adam Watts who is on loan from Fulham could also miss the game with an achilles problem. That just leaves former Bull Josh Gowling in the heart of defence.
"Adam is improving, he is still sore and with Achilles injuries, you have got to be really careful," said Tilson as reported by the Lincolnshire Echo.
"I had one myself and they can become long-term if they are not treated properly.
"As much as we would like Adam to play on Saturday he is not a definite and if I can bring someone else in, then I may do that."
The announcement that the Hereford United Community Trust have entered a partnership with Whitecross School whereby pupils can purchase tickets to watch the Bulls at Edgar Street shows just how much effort is being put in by the club to work in the local community.
"It's going to benefit everyone," says Jamie Edwards who leads the team. "The school benefits from having access to the closest professional club to them, the Club benefit from seeing more fans of the future coming into Edgar Street."
For some time the Community Trust coaches have been working at Whitecross and recently some pupils have come to Edgar Street for various lessons.
"We're working on health, we're working on education, we're working on social inclusion and we're working on improving sports participation and our involvement with Whitecross sees us reaching all of those targets," said Edwards.
The club are hoping to set up partnerships with other schools in the local area in the near future.
There's more about this story on the OS
Hereford United have confirmed that Thorne Widgery have been appointed as the club's accountants.
They replace Baker Tilly who have had the task for over ten years.
Whilst no reason has been advanced by the club for the decision to move, it is thought the change is part of chairman David Keyte's determination to use local business wherever possible.
Thorne Widgery is a local company based in Hereford, whereas Baker Tilly is now one of the largest firms of accountants in the UK with an office in Hereford.
It is hoped that the annual accounts will be released somewhat earlier this time around. They will cover the period to May 31st 2009, in essence the last season Graham Turner was in charge.
This should mean that the club's AGM will be held either in late January or early February.
Northern ref Eddie Ilderton is to take charge of Saturday's trip to Sincil Bank.
The Tyne and Wear based official last took charge of a Bulls match back in May when the Bulls comfortably beat Rotherham 3-0. According to the BN report of the game the referee "was intent on letting the game flow, and allowed some niggly fouls to go unpunished."
This season he has dished out 32 yellow cards and four reds in 13 games so far. The red cards have come in pairs with Plymouth getting two sent off at Oldham two weeks ago, and Accrington getting two dismissed at Bury three weeks previous.
Meanwhile Mark Haywood has been put in charge of the Bulls trip to Shrewsbury next week. Yorkshire based Haywood last met the Bulls at Edgar Street last October, officiating in the 1-1 draw with Dagenham. He has dished out 22 yellow cards and no reds in his 13 games this season.