HEREFORD United skipper Ian Wright is bullish about the club's chances of success next season despite a disappointing campaign this time round.

The Edgar Street stalwart remains optimistic that the Bulls can be among the clubs battling for promotion from the Nationwide Conference despite Graham Turner's clear-out which has left just six first team players.

Crowd favourite Wright insists the club must set their sights high and believes with the prospect of an influx of signings including Football League players, then Hereford will be in a position to challenge.

"The aim is to get some decent players in and be up there challenging, especially with two teams going up next year," said Wright.

"For the last two or three years it has been either one or two teams running away with it but with this play off place it opens it up.

"With around 10 games to go we could have finished in the top five if results had gone our way but they didn't."

Wright blamed poor away form for Hereford's ultimately disappointing season.

"We started off well and had a good cup run but we struggled in the league especially away from home," he said.

"There was no particular reason for that other than perhaps that we were more confident at home.

"Everyone knows that defensively we are one of the best in the league it was just scoring that we struggled to do."

Wright was one of the more consistent performers for Hereford and the former Stoke City, Bristol Rovers and Hull City player is happy with life at Edgar Street.

"I'm enjoying myself and was quite pleased with my own form and scored a couple of vital goals," he added.

Wright is currently recovering from a double hernia operation after playing through the pain barrier towards the end of the season as Hereford fought to secure survival but admits he had been carrying the injury since Christmas.

"It was just a case of putting up with the pain as much as I could and it was only in the last couple of games that I had to come off," he said.

However his recovery is going well and Bulls fans can look forward to seeing Wright in action come the start of the season.