HEREFORD United are facing a decisive, and possibly final, week in their 90-year history.

The club are back in the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday morning, defending the latest in a series of winding-up petitions.

The lead petitioners, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, have given no indication that the six-figure sum owed to them has been settled and others who are owed money by the club are also expected to have joined the petition.

When the seventh adjournment to the petition was granted on October 20, it was on the basis that a £1.5m investment would shortly be made into the club.

Chairman Andy Lonsdale said shortly after the previous hearing that the investment was expected within seven days. This was subsequently refined to 'very shortly'.

Conflicting statements then indicated that the investment was 'secured' or 'almost secured' but, with time now running out, no announcement has been made that the expected funds have arrived.

The club's official website, meanwhile, is carrying a statement from former majority shareholder Tommy Agombar, although the London businessman failed the FA's Owners and Directors Test and was told to have nothing further to do with the running of the club.

Agombar was responding to a recording of a series of voicemails, purporting to include his and other voices, sent to a fan.

He denies that his voice is being heard and says: "This episode along with a number of others making spurious claims regarding Mr Agombar and Hereford United have now been passed to lawyers acting on his behalf and will be pursued vigorously."

Manager Jon Taylor, who said that he had been told the investment was 'done and dusted', now has to prepare his side for what could be the club's final match, an FA Trophy third qualifying round tie at Edgar Street against Conference South Sutton United on Saturday.

Among Sutton's back-room staff will be a familiar figure from Hereford's recent past.

Goalkeeping coach Ian 'Chopper' Harris filled a similar role at Edgar Street, as well as doing some scouting, under Martin Foyle before becoming a victim of cut-backs early in 2013.

One of his potential coups, which was scuppered by the ongoing Hereford financial crisis and a transfer embargo, might have paid major dividends.

"We had agreed to take a lad called Tyrone Mings from Chippenham," said Harris.

"He trained with us for a couple of weeks, Martin and Andy Porter wanted to sign him, he wanted to come and Chippenham were happy to let him go.

"Martin almost begged for the money to be paid to lift the embargo but it wasn't. Mings went back to Chippenham and subsequently signed for Ipswich.

"They turned down a £3m offer from Crystal Palace in the summer but he's expected to move in the next window with figures of £6-10m mentioned."