Parry the savior
Hereford United manager Graham Turner has revealed the sale of Paul Parry to Cardiff helped save the club from the threat of bankruptcy.
Hereford United manager Graham Turner has revealed the sale of Paul Parry to Cardiff helped save the club from the threat of bankruptcy.
Turner sold Parry to the Bluebirds in a deal worth £200,000 just over three years ago and they will come face to face tomorrow when the teams meet in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Edgar Street (12.30pm).
Parry, for whom Cardiff initially paid a £75,000 fee which rose to £200,000, faces his former side having scored three goals in as many matches, including in the third round victory over non-League Chasetown.
"Hereford were heavily in debt and the sale of Paul helped us through our darkest days. It stopped this football club going bust," said former Shrewsbury boss Turner.
"That kept us going and I will always be grateful to Paul. He is always welcome here - except tomorrow!
"I hope he has a miserable day with us. I will put my arm round Paul and console him later."
Parry, 28, has established himself in the Wales International squad after making 182 appearances and scoring 19 goals for Hereford.
Turner is looking for a response from his players after a 4-0 League Two defeat at Chesterfield on Monday.
"We put on an absolutely disgraceful performance against Chesterfield but, as daft as it sounds, I would sometimes prefer to lose 4-0 than 1-0 because a 1-0 result can disguise things in players' minds. But when it ends up 4-0 there's no place to hide," added the manager.
Cardiff boss Dave Jones has no new injury worries and intends to name the same 16-man squad which earned a 3-3 draw at West Brom last weekend.
But Hereford winger Simon Johnson faces a fitness test before Turner decides on his starting line-up for the big tie.
Johnson scored Hereford's winning goal against Tranmere Rovers in the third round and it will be a bitter blow for the 24-year old, who is relishing the prospect of knocking Cardiff out of the competition.
For if Johnson is passed fit he will come up against a former Leeds United team mate Steve McPhail.
"It is a chance for us to provide another shock and who knows what we might achieve," said Johnson.
"We have nothing to loose and will go into it with a positive frame of mind."
And the Bulls know that history is beckoning as they could book their first appearance in the fifth round of the Cup in Hereford's 54-year history.
Hereford will open their turnstiles at 10.30am tomorrow morning.
Supporters have been advised to arrive early for the fourth round tie which will be played out in front of a full house at Edgar Street.
