Video vintage

VALUABLE ASSETS . . . the new North Stand at SportsDirect.com Park, captured by our cameraman PAUL STERRITT, should attract potential investors

ATHLETIC have enlisted a pair of Manchester United legends to help sell the club to potential investors.

Former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and midfield star and Athletic follower Paul Scholes both feature in a promotional video celebrating the club's glory days, a quarter-century on from the 'pinch me' season in which Athletic battled with the Old Trafford club in the last four of the FA Cup.

Among other famous figures interviewed are former managers Joe Royle and Paul Dickov, and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who two seasons ago took on an Athletic team featuring his son Anton.

Club director Anthony Gee, who is hunting down potential investors to help Athletic's bid to get into the Championship, has seen an early version of the video and has been impressed.

“We have just had the first cut back and it is very good,” Gee said. “It will be a few more weeks before it comes out. If we are talking to foreigners not as familiar with the club and its history as we are, it will be a very useful tool to bring them up to speed.

“We have footage of the games against Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton, West Ham and Southampton among others. There is some great footage. For those of us old enough to remember it, it doesn't seem so long ago when you look at some of those terrific players in action.”

A friend and associate of Simon Corney, Gee officially joined the board in November. Part of the London-based businessman’s role is to try to attract money men.

While plenty of discussions with potential investors have taken place, Gee wants to attract the right sort of person, who fits a long-term plan.

“We are always talking to people,” he added. “You would be amazed how many people want to invest in a football club. They have got to be the right people. And they must have the right amount of cash. We desperately want to get to the Championship.

“There are five or six teams in the division who have bigger budgets and who on paper are very strong. “There are a couple of places up there that will be open for anyone. We want to be in or around there by Christmas and then see where we are. Last season we backed the manager significantly in January and didn't lose any players. We are happy to do the same thing again.

“In terms of pure investment, we haven't found the right person yet who will come in and drive the club forward. We want someone who is serious and wants to stay long-term. We want someone who will build the project with us in this league. You don't get as many people who want to come in at this level who have the patience to get a return on their money.”