IT must be refreshing for former Hereford United fans to see firm steps being made to resurrect football at Edgar Street.

The man spearheading the most public bid to return the beautiful game to the former Football League ground is Malvern businessman Jon Hale.

Hale, pictured above (left), is the chairman of Hereford FC, the name given to the phoenix club formed by a group of lifelong Hereford United supporters.

The club has the backing of Hereford United Supporters Trust (HUST), whose chairman Chris Williams is pictured above right. The project is being underwritten to the tune of £150,000 by three local businessmen.

In addition to the Hale group, several other unconnected parties have also expressed an interest in launching a football club at the ground. But Hale’s group are the most visible and public project. The city’s football supporters are now looking forward to the future after the sad demise of Hereford United in December.

With Hereford United having been wound up and now in liquidation, it was interesting to hear the views of David Keyte and Andy Lonsdale, two former club chairmen.

It seems neither man wants to accept responsibility for his role in the downfall of the club.

Keyte, who sold his majority shareholding in the summer to Tommy Agombar, a convicted criminal, has broken his silence on the events of the last eight months.

Asked whether he regretted selling his shares to Agombar, Keyte said: “We were left with two outside investors to choose between and, rightly or wrongly, we went with Agombar.”

Lonsdale, initially an advisor to Agombar, has given his own opinion in the last few days.

Lonsdale previously claimed he was stuck in traffic when he missed the club’s final appearance at the High Court at which proof of £1 million funding was needed to keep United afloat.

“What we didn’t take into account was the fans and the hidden agenda,” claimed Lonsdale.

Not surprisingly, it’s fans who are picking up the pieces. Grass-roots football is nothing without supporters and Hale wants to put Hereford back on the sporting map.