TELEVISION star Omid Djalili has backed Hereford United to return as a stronger club following their expulsion from the Football Conference.

The popular stand-up comic performed two shows at Hereford’s Courtyard in April to raise money for the Edgar Street outfit to pay off a tax bill.

Djalili’s gigs generated around £20,000 for the Bulls and helped them settle the outstanding £78,000 HM Revenues and Customs demand.

It kept the club in business, saving them from being wound-up, but proved in vain as Hereford were booted out of the Conference for failing to pay their creditors.

They are now set to play in the Southern League Premier Division after being accepted subject to confidential conditions.

Djalili says he feels for the supporters but believes they will continue to rally around the 90-year-old club.

He said: “I am very sad for the fans. It seems that everybody wanted Hereford to survive except for the people who had the power to do something about it.

“I know people feel duped and people feel upset but, for me, those two gigs at the Courtyard were two of the most raucous comedy nights of my entire life.

“The fans are not going to let Hereford not exist. They’ll go down two divisions but I’m sure they’ll be back. There’s something about the area, there’s something about the water, something unbelievably brilliant about the whole place.

“I think the fans have done everything they can to support the team.

“As long as the fans keep speaking up, it’s their club, and I’m sure that Hereford will be back and they’ll come back even stronger.”

A fans' forum, scheduled for Monday, has been cancelled.

Meanwhile, Malvern-based company director Jon Hale, as a representative of a number of prominent local businessmen, will be meeting with Herefordshire Council on Tuesday to express concerns about the long-term plans of new owner Tommy Agombar.