A NON-LEAGUE football club in the North-East has landed its very own tycoon and has big plans to move up the soccer heirarchy.

Consett AFC, languishing in the second division of the Arngrove Northern League and sponsored by the local YMCA, hopes the good times will follow the appointment of millionaire haulier Bob Young to its board of directors.

The former director, and now life president of Newcastle United, has agreed to split his loyalties and add his business expertise to boost the cause of his local club.

Mr Young chairs the Hargreaves Group, based at Esh Winning, County Durham, dividing his time with his commitments as a county councillor, following his election as a Labour candidate in the Delves Lane and Consett South seat on Durham County Council earlier this year.

Although he does not expect to be a non-league Roman Abramovic, he does hope to help set the ball rolling to improve Consett's fortunes, on and off the field.

"I'm proud to have been asked," said the club's new director of development.

"I hope that with the skills and knowledge I've amassed over 35 years while running very successful businesses, plus the 17 years I've been associated with Newcastle United, both as main board director and honorary president, that I can add real value to the club's future development."

His first priority will be the search to re-locate the club at a new ground away from the restrictions of its existing home, at Belle Vue Park.

"I recognise that if this club is rightly aiming to be the best in the Northern League and beyond, then we need to ensure that we have first class facilities as well as first class players.

"Uppermost in our minds is the infrastructure that needs to be put in place to address the traffic and parking problems that any major development will bring.

"We will need radical strategic planning and road network to get people quickly in and out of the town, without further saturating the town centre."

Club president, fellow north-west Durham businessman John Hurst, said: "This can only be good news for Consett AFC.

"We desperately need to secure a new stadium and we need to inject some urgency into this matter.

"Bob brings with him a multitude of other skills in his capacity as honorary president of Newcastle United and I'm looking forward to working alongside him, in order to raise the profile of Consett AFC.

"I can say with certainty that everyone associated with the club is delighted he has taken up the offer and the challenge."

Mr Young joins fellow county councillor Clive Robson, Labour member for Consett North, on the board of the visionary club.

On the field the signs are good, as Consett won their opening two league fixtures and hope to advance in the FA Cup in tonight's extra preliminary round replay, at home to Formby, thanks to a late equaliser in Saturday's tie on Merseyside.

Consett would need nine promotions to reach the dizzy heights of Mr Young's other love, Newcastle, unless the Magpies suffer the indignity of relegation in coming seasons.

Tonight's game kicks off at 7.30pm.