FORMER Hereford United chairman Andy Lonsdale has been disqualified from being a company director for seven years.

The order – which is effective up to February 2024 – was made because Lonsdale 'failed to maintain, preserve and/or deliver up to the liquidator of Lonsdale Construction Services Limited (LCS) such books and records as were sufficient to explain its trading position and financial history.'

Therefore, without such records, the Insolvency Service declared that it has not been possible to confirm that deductions amounting to £1,557,211 from the bank account of LCS between August 29, 2014 and February 18, 2015 were for legitimate business purposes.

Lonsdale, who was initially drafted into Edgar Street as an 'advisor', was named as a director of Hereford United in November 2014.

However, despite constant promises that he would pay HMRC what they were owed, as well as wiping off the club's debts, the money was not forthcoming and Hereford were wound up in the High Court the following month.

Lonsdale was not present for the hearing, with his barrister citing that he was 'stuck in traffic'.