TONY James admits he's been knocked for six by Hereford United's failure to get promotion to the Football League.

Such was the impact of their dramatic play-off defeat to Aldershot Town, that the Edgar Street captain is still coming to terms with it, more than a week later.

"It's been a bit difficult but I've been keeping myself busy," he said.

"Now we have to wait and see what players come in and what players go."

"We were unfortunate to have the play-off go to penalties where it is just a lottery," added James. "For me personally it's going to take a while to get over. I really thought we would get promoted and I think everyone at the club thought we would.

"We worked so hard to do it and then to get knocked out like that is a bit of a shock."

A subdued James will recharge his batteries over the summer but will be keeping a close eye on developments at the club.

The fear is that Graham Turner's brilliant squad will be dismantled with Michael Rose and Steve Guinan already jumping ship to join Yeovil and Cheltenham in the Football League.

However James has committed himself to the club and with the services of James, Rob Purdie, Jamie Pitman, Ryan Green, Danny Williams, Danny Carey-Bertram and Tom Smith secured the foundations are in place for another assault on the Conference.

Turner meanwhile admitted the departures of Rose and Guinan were not a surprise.

"The first thing that Steve said to me when we talked last week was that several league clubs had been in touch, so it was unlikely that he would resign," said Turner.

"It was inevitable that Michael would go and his departure was on the card for several months but I don't think it affected his performances for us towards the end of the season."