WAYNE Brown is increasingly worried about the financial plight at one of his former clubs.

Hereford United face a winding-up order next month over an unpaid tax bill of £78,000.

They reportedly also need to raise around £300,000 by the end of May to keep afloat.

The situation has been watched with growing concern by Brown.

Oxford United’s goalkeeping coach made 132 appearances for the Bulls during his playing career.

The three season-spell from 2005 was a successful one for the club, taking them from the Conference to League One.

Just six years on, Brown is alarmed by the position Hereford are now in.

He said: “When I left, Graham Turner was the chairman and he ran such a tight ship, nothing went to waste.

“For that to turn into the way it is now in a couple of years, I can’t get my head round it.

“I had some good times down there and it’s such a friendly club.

“The fans are great and stick by you, through thick and thin. I’m astonished.”

Brown’s first club, Chester City, collapsed due to financial problems in 2010 and had to re-form down the football pyramid.

The 37-year-old hopes a solution can be found.

He said: “I’ve been speaking to a few people, who said it might get liquidated and become one a phoenix club, like Chester.

“Hopefully, fans can do something. It’s part of the football family, nobody likes to see a club go under.”

Closer to home, Brown was delighted with Ryan Clarke’s performance in Monday night’s 3-0 defeat at Southend.

The goalkeeper was the overwhelming choice among supporters for the visitors’ man of the match, receiving 94 per cent of votes.