DEFENDER Chris Parry feared he wasn't going to get the chance to sample the electric atmosphere at Edgar Street.

The new Bulls signing had to bide his time before he could don a black and white shirt after waiting for international clearance.

But the Welshman is now a key figure in the Hereford FC squad and is fully committed to helping the team keep as many clean sheets as possible.

"It seemed like it wasn't going to happen for a while," admitted Parry, who is a former Royal Marine.

"But I stayed patient and I've waited for my chance, so hopefully I'll get a few minutes under my belt.

"It was a bit confusing because I heard some people say that it will take two days or it could take 30 days.

"I wasn't really too sure where I stood, but it's through now and I look forward to get on with it now.

"It's nice to see the lads keeping clean sheets, but I want to play.

"I'm willing to give it a go and hopefully I will get a chance."

Parry joined the Bulls from Undy after impressing in a pre-season friendly.

And he witnessed at first hand the difference in quality between the two sides.

"It makes a huge difference and I think it will benefit me as a player being around those sort of lads," said Parry./

"It's a good opportunity for me."

Parry added that it will only benefit him having experienced players like Ryan Green and Chris Barker playing alongside him.

"It's great playing with those lads because they've got so much experience and have been pro's for years," he said.

"It's the little things that they can help improve your game and bring you on as a player, which is nice.

Parry was watched by Hereford assistant manager Steve Jenkins last season when the Bulls number two was in charge of Merthyr Town.

The centre-back was also on Newport County's radar.

“I knew Chris Parry, watched him last season and was looking to take him to Merthyr,” said Jenkins, who guided the club to the promotion from Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West in 2014-15 and to the Red Insure Cup last season.

“He has a very good reputation and I know Newport County were interested in him and one or two people felt he could have made the step up to that level.

“He’s got an opportunity to push on at Hereford and it’s down to Chris but he could be good addition for us.

“Chris is a right-footed centre-half.

"He can play and is a good footballer and a good defender.

"He used to be a midfielder so he’s pretty mobile.”

Jenkins, 44, is enjoying being back at Edgar Street after initially joining Hereford United as a coach under Beadle’s direction in the club’s youth set-up in the 2013/14 season.

But Beadle and Jenkins were later put in charge of United’s first-team following the departure of Martin Foyle and his coaching staff.

The pair steered United to 20th place in the Conference Premier and above the relegation zone on goal difference following a dramatic 2-1 last-day win at Aldershot.

However, Jenkins joined Merthyr Town as manager after United were taken over by Tommy Agombar and expelled from the Conference for non-payment of debts.

Monmouth-based Jenkins said: “It was a tough decision to leave Merthyr.

"I agonised over it for a little bit and it wasn’t easy but I decided to come to Hereford and I have really enjoyed it.

“Hopefully, we can push the club forward to where it should be.

“It hasn’t changed too much.

“The technical staff with Beads (Beadle), kitman Roger Lloyd and physio Jonny Evans are the same as when I was last in Hereford.”

He added: “The only difference is that we are not around the ground as much because we train at Gloucester and Tewkesbury but it’s a good feel and a good vibe around the club."