Hereford United suspended from all football with immediate effect
• Club was expelled from Conference over debts
• Statement from the FA on Hereford United
• David Conn: New owners and mistrusting fans
Hereford United fans demonstrate their support at the threatened Edgar Street ground. Photograph: David Davies/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Hereford United have been suspended from all football with immediate effect, the Football Association said in a statement.
Hereford were expelled from the Conference in June over their unpaid debts and have been playing in the Southern Premier League while the local council has begun repossession proceedings for the club’s Edgar Street ground.
The club’s majority shareholder, Alan McCarthy, had been charged with acting as an officer of Hereford United without written confirmation from the FA to do so.
The FA’s statement said: “Having failed to comply with the orders of the Independent Regulatory Commission, both Hereford United and Alan McCarthy are suspended from all football and football activity with immediate effect.
“The club and Mr McCarthy, officer of Hereford United FC, were ordered to fully and correctly comply with their obligations under the owners’ and directors’ test regulations by 4pm on Thursday 4 December 2014.
“Following consideration of a document submitted by the club, the Independent Regulatory Commission gave the parties until 4pm on Monday 8 December 2014 to submit further documentation to satisfy the orders of the commission.
“Having failed to provide the requested further documentation by the deadline, both Hereford United and Mr McCarthy shall remain suspended until such time as the order of the Independent Regulatory Commission has been complied with to the satisfaction of the commission.
“The FA understands the importance of football clubs to their local communities and will continue to work with all relevant parties to ensure senior football returns to Hereford at the earliest opportunity, although this will be contingent on the club complying with the regulations and subsequent orders of the Independent Regulatory Commission.”
BBC Hereford & Worcester reported on Wednesday that the club have a new owner, with the chairman Andy Lonsdale having taken over as the majority shareholder at Edgar Street after the previous owners Alpha Choice Finance transferred their majority shareholding to him.
It says the club is expected in court next Monday to contest a winding-up order.
Guardian
