Hereford United will have no competitive reserve team soccer next season - after following Worcester City's lead and withdrawing from the Central Conference.

The Bulls took the decision to pull out after Director of Football Graham Turner described the league as a "shambles" last season, with sides going for several weeks without games and some not completing their fixtures - even though there were only seven teams in the league.

Tamworth and Telford United have also pulled out, and Turner believes the decision to include Boston United in the league last season was a mistake - even though the Lincolnshire side played all their matches away from home.

Turner said: "It was very foolish to include Boston from so far away in the league last season and, sadly, the league was a complete and utter shambles."

But United have no plans to find an alternative, with Turner adding: "Basically we

have decided to operate without having a team in an organised reserve league.

"We will get football for the fringe players when we need it, but it will be a case of organising practice matches like the one against Swansea City just before last season's FA Cup clash with Wrexham."

The Bulls also hope to set up a youth link-up with a new college after severing their links with North Birmingham College.

The arrangement saw the college provide players for United's youth team, but they have now announced plans to link up with Stoke City.

Turner added: "There was a change of hierarchy and we experienced difficulties contacting the new people and also the players.

"The college applied to go into the Midland Floodlit Youth League as Stoke City and we are disillusioned at the way in which they have behaved."

Hereford have arranged an extra pre-season friendly at League of Wales side Aberystwyth Town on Tuesday, August 6 (7.45).