HEREFORD United's immediate future appears to be at Edgar Street.

Herefordshire Council have backed the cash-strapped club remaining at their current home as the preferred option in the planned redevelopment of the central area of Hereford.

The club will remain at Edgar Street while the council explore options for the next stage of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan, of which a draft version is expected to be approved in March.

But property developers Chelverton have shelved a plan to explore relocating the club elsewhere in the city, which they had hoped could be included in the plan.

The dark cloud still on the horizon for Bulls fans is that Chelverton, who own the leases on Edgar Street and have invested more than £1 million in the club, want their money repaid by May 2003.

That could present a problem without the extra cash that potential relocation could provide, but Herefordshire Council leader

Terry James is confident that the club will come through the crisis.

He said: "There is no support within the council for the relocation of the football club.

"The supporters should remain optimistic because I have never been more optimistic myself about the future of Hereford United than at this point."

As is the case with neighbours Worcester City, who are also looking to move, traditionalists don't want to see the Bulls leave the ground that has witnessed so many great occasions, but if it means the club can survive and prosper on another site, then it may need to be done.

But one way or another, the situation needs a speedy resolution for the football club's sake.

Following today's home match with Nun-eaton Borough, the Bulls are without a game until Boxing Day when they travel to Telford United. Their next home game is against Stalybridge Celtic on December 29.