Lottery millionaire joins Newport County (From South Wales Argus)

Lottery millionaire joins Newport County

7:00am Monday 30th July 2012 in Newport County Exclusive By Michael Pearlman

LOTTERY multi-millionaire Les Scadding has joined the board at Newport County AFC and has urged people to follow his lead in order to help the Exiles complete their march back to the Football League.

Scadding made headline news across the world in November 2009 when he scooped the £45 million Euro Millions jackpot.

Scadding at the time made clear his realistic and modest plans for his cash and only made promises to buy a new car and spoil his three children.

A big football fan and at the time of their win based in Caerleon, Scadding has been a regular visitor to Newport County for the past year.

He was a regular face in the directors’ box at Spytty Park last term and also frequently travelled with then chairman Chris Blight to away games.

Director Howard Greenhaf and Blight made no secret of their desire to have Scadding join the club but opted for a softly, softly approach that has now paid off.

There is no prospect of Scadding acting as a sugar daddy and pouring lavish sums into the club, but his arrival will still be greeted with great enthusiasm by the County faithful following their move to Rodney Parade.

Scadding joins Greenhaf and interim chairman David Hando on the board, with three more members to be announced in the near future.

However, Scadding is hopeful his public involvement can lead to even more businessmen following his lead in backing the Exiles. He also confirmed that the "regrettable," resignation of Blight made him feel now was the time to publicly show his support for the club.

"I have been involved since last season, but I’ve been on the outside. However, because of the regrettable situation with Chris and the fact the club has been left with one director, it seems right to come on now officially.

"H (Howard Greenhaf) is a good friend and I have enormous faith in his ability to take the club forward. But the time is right to come on officially, helping him is my main objective and I’m looking forward to being known as a director rather than a guy acting as such but in an unofficial capacity."

Scadding was hugely impressed with the first friendlies at Rodney Parade and is hopeful the feelgood factor at the club can convince other businessmen to join the club.

"Tuesday’s game with Bristol Rovers couldn’t have gone better and that’s the sort of thing that makes it all worth while, I just hope the fans will give us the support," he explained. "We need 1,800 every week and if we can take 10,000 to Wembley that shouldn’t be a problem."

Scadding is under no illusions about the job lot of a non-league football director.

"I’ve tried to help in the past financially and will do so going forward, as does Howard and as did Chris Blight. I don’t think people realise just how much money these guys and others have put in over the last ten years and that money doesn’t come back.

"But we know what we are getting in for, us contributing financially gives the club stability and my message to anyone interested in the club is ‘come and join us’. I’m trying to get some other people on the board of directors and a few in the corporate boxes on a Saturday as well.

"There is a good feel about the club, the Supporters’ Trust gives us great support and I want to do my bit"