HEREFORD United assistant manager Neil Phelps admits that the step up from youth football has been a big learning curve.

Phelps previously worked as a coach at Pegasus Juniors before becoming second in command to Jon Taylor at Edgar Street.

He also worked for the Bulls as a video analyst but now finds himself trying to help move United up the Southern League Premier Division table, in which they currently sit 16th.

“It has been a massive step up for me and has been a really big learning curve,” Phelps said. “But I am working alongside a really experienced manager at this level who has helped me out a lot.

“Jon has helped me deal with the players on and off the pitch. It is different to grassroots. He has helped me out quite a bit.”

Hereford struggled at the start of the season but since then have picked up in recent weeks and they host Hungerford Town today (3pm) bidding for a third league win in a row.

Phelps said: “We were a bit uneasy in pre-season, but we look solid now. We played a lot better against Biggleswade last Saturday and kept the ball.

“We looked more composed and looked after the ball and didn’t give away silly fouls. It was a lot calmer and was a much better performance.

“Consistency has got to come in now. It is there now I think, we’ve just got to settle.”

Phelps has also taken over as the club secretary on a temporary basis after his wife Laura left the role.

The Hereford assistant said: “I’m acting secretary at the moment until we can get someone else in.

“Laura had her reasons for leaving, some would say they were good reasons, some would say they weren’t.

“But that’s for Laura to say, not me.”