The first Annual General Meeting of the Hereford United Supporters Trust took place this evening at the Richmond Club in Hereford.
Chairman Chris Williams took the meeting. He was on top table along with five other board members. Around 50 other members were present.
Williams gave a report on the Trust's first year.
Members were given a document of events which Williams went through.
He stated that the Trust had started with the club in financial straits but playing in the Conference. Now it is playing two tiers below and deeper in debt.
When the Trust started it talked to the board and helped fund the club in several ways but the financial situation continued to get worse.
Eventually the club was put up for sale. There were three bidders, a consortium who soon pulled out, HUST and Tommy Agombar.
HUST asked for pledges to help fund a bid and received a lot of backing but in the end chairman David Keyte decided to sell to Agombar as 'they had more money'.
Keyte refused to show HUST the books.
On reflection Williams felt the club should have gone bust.
Williams has spoken to Agombar several times. Initially Agombar said that the club would be back in the FL in two seasons but then Agombar had that meeting with Herefordshire Council about transferring the leases to his company.
At that stage HUST offered £58K to Agombar for the club but he refused.
Williams felt that was when the club stopped being about football but was all about leases. 'Take the football out of Edgar Street and it's no longer my club'.
Why didn't they pay the Conference Bond, why not sort the safety issues, why not do basic repairs like cleaning out the gutters?
HUST then asked members what they should do and the answer was a boycott, don't go there and get them out.
After the first winding up order meeting in the High Court, there was contact between Agombar and Williams. HUST asked for a letter from Agombar saying there would be no sale of Edgar Street etc, one was promised but it's never been received despite repeated reminders.
So what is HUST doing? Williams said they had made lots of friends throughout football and they are currently supporting UITC and Youth Football. They keep in contact with the business group but can't do anything with them until the current owners of Hereford United move away.
"It's crucial to retain Edgar Street," said Williams.
Treasurer Jack James gave his report. Current membership is 743 adults, 155 juniors and 9 corporate members.
Income was increasing with merchandise and the supporters team. HUST had a current surplus of £10880 compared with £6268 at the end of May.
Then a question and answer session.
One of those was about how much money Agombar had put into the club, another about who were the directors and a third about what happened to the leases should the club go into liquidation - the leases would revert to the Council said Williams.
Then in reply to another question Williams said that HUST had suggested to the Council that should the club fold, HUST would like to have a licence to operate Edgar Street until the beginning the next season. The idea would be to show the the Council that HUST could run the club and also show the Southern League that Hereford United would be back in business ready for next season. It was hoped the SL would look kindly at this.
"They need Hereford in their League," said Williams.
It was then revealed that absent directors John Edwards and his partner would be back from China before Saturday's game at Edgar Street.
Asked about the strategy, Williams that HUST's was to let the club die. The debts are too high.
"A different model is required," he said. "The boycott is helping strave the club."
Steve Niblett then spoke about how he been helping raise funds for players and staff.
The latest staff member to leave is Chelsea Corner and a collection for her raised £235. Nibbo later presented to money to Chelsea who was at the meeting.
Keith Hall then took over as 'election officer'.
All those board meeting who were standing were re-elected. Mick Loader was also elected to the board and Mick Langford was co-opted onto the board to become treasurer in place of Jack James who has stood down.
Hall also made suggestions that a 'fighting fund' should be launched and that more press coverage was required particularily in the Hereford Times.
"We need to raise the profile," he said.
Another member felt it was important to keep the 'momentum going'.
Williams then thanked the members for attending and closed the meeting.
Next years HUST AGM will take place on September 17th 2015.
Next years HUST AGM will take place on September 17th 2015.