CRAIG Jones has not been invited to Hereford United’s pre-season training after finally learning his fate this week.

“I’ve been waiting all summer only to be called on Monday night at 9pm by United’s assistant manager, that I wasn’t going to be asked to come back and play,” said Jones.

“We had a meeting at the end of last season at United and Martin Foyle told us he didn’t know what was going on, that we were all free to go and that he’d be in touch.

“I don’t hold grudges but I had given up a job to give it a crack at the club.

“Not being invited back for pre-season is very disappointing – more so because they promised Westfields that they weren’t just going to take me away and put me on the bench.

“I only played around 24 minutes of match football in nine games so I don’t feel I was given a decent look-in. Now I’ve got to find another job,” added the 23-year-old.

Jones believes he could play at Conference North or South level.

“I was speaking to Redditch United and Stratford Town but talks faded as I wasn’t overly keen and I was waiting for Hereford to get back to me.

“It’s frustrating but I’m happy going back to Westfields and I went back to training last Friday as I was expecting that Hereford weren’t going to ask me back. But I enjoy it at Westfields and that makes all the difference.”

Westfields have narrowly missed out on promotion from Midland Alliance in the last two seasons.

Jones said: “We want to put it right and get promoted. Dan Connor has come as a coach from United and he’s doing a brilliant job.”

However, last season’s top-scorer Richard Kear has quit Westfields and is expected to take up a player-coach role at Lydney Town.

“It’s a big blow to lose Kear because he scores goals out of nowhere but Aidan Thomas and Jamie Cuss are more than capable of doing the job,” said Jones.

Despite Jones not making the cut for the Bulls, he said: “I’d still like to see them do well as they’re my local team. Hopefully, Westfields can play at a similar level one day soon.”

United’s assistant-manager Andy Porter confirmed that Jones had not been asked back for pre-season training at Edgar Street.