HEREFORD United's FA Cup hero Rob Elmes says he would relish the chance to become a full-time player.

The 29-year-old striker grabbed all the headlines through his winning goal in last week's televised FA Cup victory over Hartlepool United.

And it wasn't just for his footballing exploits - the media descended in force on his day job, as a teacher of German and PE at a school in Sutton Coldfield.

But the former Bromsgrove Rovers player said that he could easily put teaching to one side to become a professional at Edgar Street.

He said: "It is a very attractive proposition. Teaching is a profession that is quite simple to go back into at a later date.

"It is an option I have looked at, and would certainly consider seriously if an offer was made."

He admitted that juggling his football with his work at the Bishop Walsh School was often tricky.

"It is sometimes quite difficult going, particularly if I have a midweek game.

"Fortunately I have a very understanding head teacher, who regards it quite nice to have a member of staff playing a decent level of football.

"He allows me an hour off at the end of the day when we have to go to places like Yeovil."

Elmes, who joined the Bulls from Halesowen Town last summer, generally only sees his full-time team-mates on match days.

He and midfielder John Snape, who is also part-time, train twice a week in the evenings with Interlink Express Midland Alliance side Oldbury United.

"It is not ideal. Oldbury is fairly local for both of us, but it is nice to gel with the lads and it would be good to see my team-mates a little bit more often during the week."

While the Bulls now have a plum home third round Cup tie with Premiership side Leicester City to look forward to on December 11, Elmes would trade Cup glory for the Nationwide Conference title and a return to League football.

He believes they still have a great chance.

"We are only seven or eight points off the top of the league - all we need to do is put a consistent run together.

"It is all very tight and I am very confident we can beat anybody on the day, but we are still a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde side."