LAST week we held one of our regular safety meetings at the ground which are attended by the police, the fire brigade, the ambulance service and Herefordshire Council.

At these meetings, every aspect of ground safety and match security is discussed and at every meeting the council's representative asks: "Are there any developments on the development?"

And my reply is always the same: "You read the Hereford Times, so you know as much as I do!"

The safety aspects of the ground present no problems. The annual structural report at the ground reveals no major problems but there are always small things deteriorating - a wall to be re-built, some concrete to be poured in here and there.

In five years' time, though, major work will have to be carried out at the ground and a six-figure amount will have to be spent.

So the lack of news about where the future of the club lies presents real difficulties. If we knew for sure where the club was going to be for the next 40 or 50 years then we could start planning accordingly.

I'm well aware that the planning process is a bit long-winded but this seems to be going on forever without any real information being forthcoming.

The ground's capacity has been cut from 8,700 to 7,700 but there is no problem in holding a big cup tie here, even with that reduced figure.

There would also be no problem in returning to league football with that capacity and neither, incidentally, would our continuing involvement in the CVA.

Whereas Exeter will not be allowed to go into the play-offs because of their entry into a CVA, that legislation will not apply retrospectively to us.

With the FA Cup coming around again on Saturday, we shall be doing our best to progress with the hope of ultimately getting through to the third round for the chance of a tie with one of the big clubs - and the attendant publicity that brings, not only to the club but to the city as well.

I'm not sure it's always appreciated how much that is worth to Hereford but I'm certain that the council's tourist department simply could not afford to buy the publicity that the club is capable of bringing to the city.

We are doing our best here to keep on top of the situation but we really need to know what is happening so that we can make our plans for the future.