Geoffrey Richmond is back in football.

The former Bradford City chairman is joining Notts County as chief executive after ten months out of the game.

Richmond (pictured), who was succeeded at Valley Parade by Gordon Gibb, will be the figurehead for the new board taking over the Second Division club. His main role will be to raise the profile of the club.

Notts County, known as The Magpies, have had their money problems, like City, and have been in administration since last June.

But creditors last week agreed to sell the club rather than put it into liquidation. Administrators Kroll, who oversaw City's take-over by Mr Gibb and Julian Rhodes, have accepted a £3 million-plus bid from businessmen Raj Bhatia and Frank Strang.

There were two other bidders including outgoing chairman Albert Scardino.

But Richmond will not be recruited to the reconstituted board which will be chaired by Mr Bhatia.

City fans will watch developments at Meadow Lane with close interest.

Richmond's eight-and-a-half year reign with the Bantams included a win at Wembley, where they beat Notts County in the Division Two play-off final in 1996, Premiership football and the Intertoto Cup. But he was also at the helm when the club plunged into a financial crisis from which it nearly did not recover.

Mr Richmond, who has set up his own print company Classic Sign & Design in Rawdon, admits he has missed the day-to-day involvement.

He watched a handful of live games last season when his former Scarborough boss Neil Warnock invited him along to Sheffield United. But Mr Richmond has not been back to Valley Parade.

Mr Richmond admitted he needed the break after the strain of City's administration. But he said: "My love affair with the game is as strong as ever.

"Going to Bramall Lane, it was wonderful to be a part of football again even as a normal spectator. The buzz never leaves you."

Mr Richmond has deliberately kept a low profile since his exit from City in the week before the start of last season. But he has been in the news lately. Mr Richmond and former director Martin Jones reportedly face a £2.3m tax bill from the Inland Revenue dating back to 1997 when their private company Loquitor went into voluntary liquidation.

And the personalised number plate from his Bentley, GR 1, together with those of his wife Elizabeth and son Michael are available for auction.

Mr Richmond will be officially unveiled at a press conference next Thursday.

A source close to Notts County said: "There's a massive job to be done here because the club is run down. All sorts of revenues need looking at, fund-raising in particular has to be jacked up and the amount of business being brought in to the banqueting suite.

"There is also a big issue of the supporters who have lost a lot of faith. But people will be aware of Geoffrey Richmond and his presence will certainly ensure the club's name is higher profile."