STEVE Lansdown has now become the saviour of two of Bristol's major sports clubs. His support of first Bristol City and now Bristol Rugby has safeguarded their futures in what are very difficult economic times.

And for this he deserves great credit. He is, after all, a highly successful businessman. In fact he is one of the top two businessmen in the city – the other being his business partner Peter Hargreaves.

Mr Lansdown could take it easy. He has no need to fill his days with the hassles of helping to run challenging businesses like Bristol City and Bristol Rugby. And certainly has no need to pour huge amounts of his own money into them.

But he is one of those rare people who having succeeded themselves wants to give something back to their city.

Just as Harry Dolman did at City before him, Denis Dunford did at Rovers and John James did with the charitable foundation in memory of his late daughter.

Nick Higgs is currently doing the same at Bristol Rovers. But never before has one man come to the aid of two clubs at the same time.

Mr Lansdown appears to be a quiet, unassuming man but he is passionate about his home city and about sport and Bristol should never take him for granted.