HEREFORDSHIRE Council have taken possession of the city’s Edgar Street stadium, the former home of Hereford United.

The council have been given the go-ahead to legally take over as landlords of the site following the winding-up of United on Friday over an unpaid HM Revenues and Customs bill of £116,000.

Police were called to the ground following the Royal Courts of Justice announcement amid reports that fixtures and fittings had been stripped from the stadium, while fans also kept watch over the weekend.

A council statement also said that “the successful re-entry to the ground and land has effected the forfeiture of the leases”.

The three leases cover the Blackfriars and Meadow End of the ground as well as the Starlite Rooms.

Members of the club’s supporters’ trust now hope to form a new team to play at Edgar Street from the start of next season.

On the pitch, Hereford were 14th in the Southern League Premier Division table having gleaned 30 points from 25 games.

Their record has yet to be expunged.