BLUES are now halfway through their schedule of fixtures during this vaguest, most worrying of pre-seasons.

Nobody can be certain just what is happening out in Hong Kong in regard to the financial wellbeing of the club. It is grim, no doubt, but there is far too much stonewalling, rumour and a lack of clarity.

Carson Yeung has ordered a boardroom shake-up, elevating his 18-year-old son Ryan to director, but for what reason no-one is saying and neither do we know what’s in store for Yeung himself when he’s up in court on money-laundering charges.

Players have been and will be sold because of the mess Yeung and parent company Birmingham International Holdings Limited have got into. When that stops, and how many will be left standing, again, no-one is telling.

And on the flip side, players need to be brought in to bolster the ranks regardless.

In the meantime, with all this as the unsettling backdrop, Chris Hughton and his side get on with things the best they can.

And Blues’ loyal supporters, while certainly exasperated by the crisis, still turn out in numbers – the kick-off had to be delayed as Hereford were taken by surprise by the near 2,000-plus who travelled – and remind people they are going on a European tour.

It appears that Hughton, the players and fans are going to need each other like never before in recent times this season.

Blues, without three main strikers due to injury, had long, dominant spells against their League Two opponents but were unable to find the necessary finishing touches.

Michel was used in a role just off Adam Rooney and for all his decent and willing contributions, unsurprisingly, he hasn’t got that finisher’s instinct.

Twice he was denied by fine, last-ditch blocks by a dogged Hereford defence and in the very last passage of play headed an inviting back-post chance wide.