Bristol's inclusion in the 2018 World Cup would further drive the provision of a new stadium in the city – which could also ensure rockers such as U2 play Bristol, not Cardiff, according to a former Robins' chairman.

Les Kew may spend more time in his garden now than at Ashton Gate but he feels strongly that his former club, and the city, are about to take a big step forward.

Mr Kew, 73, was a director at Bristol City for 11 years, with the last two and half spent as chairman.

And he believes the club are blessed to have current chairman Steve Lansdown who is "putting his money where his mouth is" to deliver a new stadium which could bring World Cup football to Bristol and return big-name musical acts to the city.

"I believe the World Cup would be a wonderful opportunity," he said.

"Anything which promotes football in Bristol has got to be beneficial to both clubs.

"This is going to be a major battle though and there is going to have to be a major action by the bidders as Bristol is not a city with a Premier League team and not as well known as London and Manchester," he said.

"So it will need one hell of a presentation. But it is the centre of the West and is more than capable.

"If it did happen it would put Bristol on the world stage. And that is a good thing whichever way you look at it."

Mr Kew recalls 36,000 people lapping up the music of the Rolling Stones when they graced Ashton Gate in 1982, the start of a series of big-name bands to play the stadium, culminating in Bon Jovi's appearance last summer.

This year though no gigs were announced at the ground as the club could not turn a profit due to restrictions on numbers and health and safety legislation.

So any possibility of staging a band the size of U2, who hit Cardiff on Saturday, is shelved until a new stadium is complete.

"I was born in Bristol, grew up in Bristol and the one thing it has always lacked is a major venue for big events," said Mr Kew.

"In principal it would be wonderful for the clubs (City and Rovers) to share one big stadium. It works in Italy, so why not here. We were close to doing it in 1981/82 when Rovers relinquished the lease on their Eastville ground but we couldn't come to an agreement and I think it would need a neutral venue to work."

He witnessed some dark days with Bristol City following their plunge down to the fourth division in the late Seventies and early Eighties and played a role in their subsequent resurrection.

It was Kew who brought Andy Cole to Ashton Gate from Arsenal in 1992 for a then record £500,000, breaking another record eight months later when Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United securedCole's signature for a cool £1.75m.

His stay at the helm was brought to an untimely end following a ban from the game for irregularities in the bidding process for new floodlights at Ashton Gate.

Now though he hopes to witness international football in Bristol from the anonymity of a seat among the fans.

"I think the new stadium will live up to its expectations. And if people want to see these big concerts... they should back it and the World Cup bid," he said.