HEREFORD United officials believe the new leases for Edgar Street will open doors to safeguard the club's future.

This month has seen the Bulls sign the documents with Herefordshire Council to give them security on their ground for the next 30 years.

That will be extended by 250 years by the council if the club develop either end of the stadium, which remains their aim.

Hereford will also now be eligible for grant funding for any future development to the tune of £400,000 in the Conference and £750,000 in the Football League.

In addition, they hope to be able to attract fresh investment to the club during a season that has seen them narrowly avoid a winding-up order.

A club statement said: "Following the agreement and signing of the new leases for the Edgar Street stadium, the chairman and the board of directors of Hereford United are now looking for the business and football club to be put on a stable footing and to be able to build positively for the future.

"The club is now in a prime position to attract significant investment from parties that in investing, can not only oversee the development of either end of the ground commercially, which in turn will financially benefit the football club, but also underpin the club’s focus to return to the Football League with all of the additional funding and commercial benefits that this brings.

"The club will now be widening its search for investment and potential new ownership if that is required to take the club forward."

It added that chairman David Keyte remained committed to the long-term success of the club and making it a 52-week community facility.

Keyte has also said he would step down from his position if "it is commercially the right deal for all parties".

The statement continued: "His vision has not changed - to make Hereford United a successful Football League club, benefiting from its history and high profile all over the world."