SUN Valley Foods have announced continued sponsorship for Hereford United after agreeing a three-year extension to their deal with the Bulls.

It will take the Hereford company's total sponsorship with United up to 11 years and comes as a major boost to the club in cash-strapped times.

Sun Valley director Mark Sisson would not state the exact value of the new deal, but it is thought to be in line with last season's interim arrangement of £30,000 for one year.

"We were very keen to keep on with the sponsorship - hopefully we're going to get Hereford out of the Conference and into the league where they belong," said Sisson.

"I think as the largest employer in the city it is important that we do as much as possible for the club."

United boss Graham Turner said: "We're extremely grateful to Sun Valley and we have formed a very good liaison over the past few years. All credit to them - it shows a bit of faith in us."

Bulls director George Hyde echoed Turner's sentiments and said: "We're delighted that it is a three-year deal. I know how much the supporters appreciate what Sun Valley have done for the club.

"It's a major international company but they have kept their feet in the community. We would like to think that other employers will get more heavily involved than they have in the past."

The deal will coincide with a revised home kit for the Bulls and it may be donned early against Premiership clubs.

United are hoping to pencil clashes with Leicester City and FA Cup finalists Aston Villa into their pre-season diary, with fixtures to be confirmed next week.

Leicester, of course, visited Edgar Street as recently as last December when the Bulls forced a heroic goalless draw in the third round of the FA Cup.

Villa will wait until after Saturday's FA Cup final to decide whether to visit Hereford and display such talents as Benito Carbone and Paul Merson.

One pre-season friendly at Edgar Street to be confirmed is against Oxford United on August 1, while the Bulls will also visit Halesowen and Oldbury as part of their summer programme.

Rob Elmes has further boosted United by committing himself to a two-year part-time contract, while YTS midfielder John Shirley has signed a one-year professional deal.

Turner is continuing to look at various options in his search for new players but admitted that the club had already "missed" one unnamed goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, young defender James Wall, who broke his ankle while on loan at Burton Albion, has started his comeback and Turner said: "He is making decent prog-ress."