CHRIS Booy has revealed he would have gladly walked away from Bristol for the good of the club if a new majority shareholder had asked him to do so.

But the chairman is delighted to get the chance to work alongside Steve Lansdown in trying to take Bristol back to – and then keep them in – the Aviva Premiership.

Until Lansdown's purchase of the club – revealed exclusively in yesterday's Evening Post – Booy had been acting as the majority shareholder and chairman.

But he had been looking to add significant investment for some time – admitting that leading the club had, at times, been "a lonely place".

Booy would have considered quitting his role as chairman and stepping aside had a wealthy investor put up the money and asked him to do so – but, in former school-mate Lansdown, he has found a backer he can happily work alongside.

And Booy, who initially became involved with the club as part of a consortium-led rescue package in 2003, said: "I have been involved a long time now and I am delighted to be carrying on as chairman.

"It was important we found someone like Steve – someone I trust implicitly – to work with and he has a very strong vision for the club.

"But my position has always been clear – and if the right person had wanted me to step aside then I would have done it. I have always seen myself as a custodian of this great rugby club and part of that is making sure the new owner would take the club forward in the right way, whether that involved me or not."

Lansdown's plan for Bristol will see Booy remain a key part of the club – both as a minority shareholder and chairman – and he is delighted to get the opportunity to stay so heavily involved.

When asked about bearing the majority of responsibility for the club's finances over the past few years, Booy said: "It's a lonely place, more than anything, because I started off with a consortium and, for various reasons, that consortium broke up. It had become quite a lonely place.

"There have been other benefactors – and I want to thank all of them for their help – and people should not underestimate the contributions they have made over the last few years.

"It has been a lonely place at times, though, and what I am pleased about is the stability the club has. I am pleased to remain a shareholder – but, with Steve as the majority shareholder, we now have the financial muscle to give the club a really sound base."

Lansdown, meanwhile, has revealed how his days as a season-ticket holder at the rugby club persuaded him to become involved as an investor.

"I've always had an interest in the rugby club and always wanted them to do well," he said. "My son and I used to go to (Bristol) City one week with one season ticket and Bristol Rugby with a season ticket the following week, up in the Centenary Stand.

Football was my first sport, but I love all sports, and, having lived in Bristol, which is still my home city, I have always followed the rugby club. When it got into trouble a few years back, I felt a responsibility to help keep the rugby club going and make sure rugby fans in Bristol had a professional club to support."

Related content

Bristol Rovers vow to push on with new £40m stadium plan