Hereford United chairman pledges £1m investment

A £50,000 debt was paid off to Herefordshire Council after it threatened to evict the club from its ground

Hereford United's chairman has promised to invest £1m of his own money in the club as a winding-up petition was adjourned for an eighth time in the High Court.

The crisis-hit club was expelled from the Football Conference in June after failing to pay creditors.

Club boss Andy Lonsdale said he would put up his own money after a promised £750,000 deal fell through.

A judge granted the club a further 14 days to pay off its debts.

United's barrister told the court Essex-based Doug Carroll, of Newell Properties Developments Ltd, had offered to put up the £750,000 investment in the club.

'Do right thing'

The hearing was adjourned after the judge in the case requested more evidence.

When the court reconvened, Mr Lonsdale told the court he would invest £1m in the club.

Speaking after the hearing, he told the BBC Mr Carroll had withdrawn his offer after being scared off by comments made on social media.

"I decided to do the right thing... and show I've got the funds to do it," he said.

Along with former owner Tommy Agombar, he faced a group of fans outside the court, angry at the club's long-running problems.

The winding-up petition, which dates back to June, is being brought by HM Revenue and Customs, which is thought to be owed £116,000.

Herefordshire Council had also joined the petition, but its £50,000 debt was settled by the football club in October, after the authority threatened to evict it from the Edgar Street ground.