OPTIMISM abounds for every club at the start of every season but the bookies are not so keen on Hereford United making them joint 14th favourites to win the Nationwide Conference.

Surrey Sports has them at 33/1 with Nuneaton Borough while the outsiders are Gravesend & Northfleet, Leigh RMI and Telford United, all at 66/1. Yeovil Town, who snapped up former Bulls favourite Gavin Williams, are 3/1 favourites, with Dagenham & Redbridge, Chester City and Doncaster Rovers all seemingly in with a good chance.

Hereford are quoted as 25/1 for the FA Trophy along with Canvey Island, Forest Green Rovers, Margate, Northwich Victoria, Nuneaton Borough and Southport. This places Hereford as joint 12th favourites.

Bulls boss Graham Turner takes his side to Bromsgrove Rovers on Tuesday night where trialists Danny Williams from Chesterfield and Rod Giggs will again be given a chance to impress. Paul Parry should be fit to play some part in the game despite being substituted at half time against Swindon Town after picking up a knock. Striker John Grant has picked up a foot injury and may be doubtful.

Turner was pleased with the performances against Tranmere and Swindon but admitted that the new centre-half partnership of Ian Wright, Tony James and Andy Tretton still needed to gel. "They are still coming to terms with the new system and striving for understanding but we've played two good teams and it has been a good work out for us," he said.

Hereford's players showed their prowess on the cricket field recently by taking on Almeley in a match to celebrate the village club's golden jubilee. Wright took four wickets and Matt Baker two as they bowled the villagers out for 127. Baker hit 33 as the footballers won by three wickets.