MALVERN businessman Jon Hale has put forward a proposal for a new football club to play at Edgar Street in Hereford.

Hale, a director at Hadopots Limited, was a life-long supporter of debt-ridden Hereford United, who were wound up in the Royal Courts of Justice last month.

He is in a group of businessmen who have submitted plans to Herefordshire Council, the landlords of Edgar Street, to form a new football club, Hereford FC.

“Our proposal is based on a partnership between Hereford United Supporters’ Trust (HUST) and a group of long-standing Bulls supporters who have written a business plan,” said Hale.

“This is backed by benefactors, also long-standing Hereford fans, who want no return for their donations.

“Should the council invite us to become the new tenants, we will need a monumental effort by supporters to make a club to be proud of.

“There will be much work to do, much of it unpaid on a volunteer basis, and there is no doubt the success of this phoenix club will depend on the appetite within the fan base to get involved.”

United had been competing in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division when the club were wound up and the 2014-15 season’s results were expunged from the record books this week.

Hale said: “We’ve been blown away by the support considering it was December 19 when the club was wound up.

“We went live with our website a few days ago and we’ve had hundreds of e-mails offering help, support and donations. It’s been absolutely incredible.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed that the council believe we are the right tenants.”

Hale said support from HUST members would be vital to the success of the group’s plans.

“We are still discussing with HUST how best to set the constitution of the club to safeguard it and the ground for generations of fans to come,” said Hale.

“Profits will filter directly back to the club and that should forever be the case.

“While new benefactors will be invited, their suitability will be measured against their agreement with the club’s constitution.”

United were formed in 1924 and enjoyed success in the FA Cup and the lower levels of the Football League.