ADVISOR Andy Lonsdale has hit back at claims from former Hereford United non-executive director Bob Pritchard.

Pritchard labelled Tommy Agombar’s advisors as ‘amateur’ over their handling of the club’s affairs over the past month.

But Lonsdale said today: “If we had not come in when we did – Hereford United would now be dead.

“David Keyte could not go forward and the local businessmen did not come forward.

“David Keyte was on his last legs and all the other directors – Grenville Smith, Bob Pritchard and Nick Nenadich – not one of them stepped up – and one of them has called us amateur.

“If we are amateur and we have saved the club – what does that say about them?

“They have killed the club.

“The club was £1.3 million in debt under their watch – not ours – and they call us amateur.”

“All we have done is try to mop up their mess.

“We are getting hammered over the state of the club – but we never caused it.

“The Football creditors have been owed money – and that was not created under our watch.”

Lonsdale said he is at United for footballing reasons.

“We are here to build for the future,” said Lonsdale.

“We have not destroyed Hereford United Football Club – that was done before we got here.

“We want to go forward positively. We had loads of local friendlies that could have been played here but there was a lot of negativity from the fans.

“Tommy Agombar has got some great footballing contacts and so too has Mark Ellis and Joel and I.

“We are going to use those for the benefit of Hereford.”

Lonsdale is proud of what the club has achieved in a short space of time.

“On June 1 Hereford did not have a player apart from Luke Graham who was still under contract but not at the club,” said Lonsdale.

“We have brought in 19 players and Neil, Mark and Joel have turned them into a team which has challenged Besiktas and thrashed Eagley and Bedfont - that’s a big statement about this club.”