Hereford United: debts 'four times' what owner thought

Hereford United owner Tommy Agombar claims its debts are four times what he believed they were when he took over the club.

The Bulls were expelled from the Football Conference after the club's failure to pay its bills.

Mr Agombar claimed he was initially told the club needed £300,000 and has since learned the debts total £1.3m.

Confronted by fans after a meeting about the club, Mr Agombar said there are "debts coming out of the woodwork".

'Endless pit'

The London businessman's comments to fans were recorded and posted on YouTube.

He told the supporters: "The reason the club was expelled was that the Conference wanted £350,000 off me to put in their bank account and I refused."

Asked why he bought the club for £2 in a deal with previous chairman David Keyte, Mr Agombar said: "We did not have the facts.

"When I came down to the club, they said they would need £300,000. Now it's £1.3m.

"Since I came, I've had debts coming out of the woodwork. I'm not an endless pit. I'm not Roman Abramovich."

Hereford United still face two winding-up petitions despite having a case against them dismissed at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Monday.

United had a further case, brought by former manager Martin Foyle over unpaid wages, adjourned for 28 days on 2 June.

Mr Agombar met Herefordshire County Council officials on Monday afternoon, following a call by MP Jesse Norman to defer any decision on potential changes to the leases on the Edgar Street stadium for at least a month.