NEW Bury director Mark Catlin is hoping his arrival can be the catalyst for better times for Bury.

The 44-year-old has pumped a personal cash injection into the club and will undertake a role aimed at increasing the Shakers’ income.

Catlin, who is the owner and managing director of Telitec, one of Spain’s largest independent telecommunications companies, has ploughed an undisclosed amount into the club after weeks of talks.

The entrepreneur has assumed the role of commercial director at Gigg Lane and hopes to strengthen the League Two club by increasing revenue streams.

“I would hope my involvement will lead to fresh funds for the manager,” said Catlin. “But it’s not really my call. I will do all that I can to bring extra money to the club, but how it is spent is a matter for the board of which I am just one person of five.”

It is an exciting appointment for both parties and Catlin, who is the former president of Spanish non-league outfit CD Jávea, admits he is looking forward to getting his teeth into the new project. He said: “I was actually already talking to a few league clubs about my possible help and involvement with them when I received a call from a mutual friend of both myself and Bury FC, who has worked at many of the top clubs in England. He advised me that Bury would be interested in a meeting to explore the possibility of working with them.

“This meeting was arranged and at this point I explained my current personal situation, experience, views and ideas. Further talks took place with members of the board over the next few days and weeks leading to the club announcement of my arrival last week.

“From the initial telephone contact made with the club, through to the first meeting, subsequent meetings and then the Rotherham game, I knew Bury was the club for me above all the others I was talking to.

“The people involved in the club have made me feel so welcome. I knew the second that I left Gigg Lane for the first time that this was the only club for me and I immediately cancelled meetings I had planned to concentrate all efforts on a successful conclusion at Bury FC.”

His role involves becoming an active board member and working closely with the club’s press officer, Gordon Sorfleet, and commercial manager, Peter Young, to try and boost additional revenue streams while, at the same time, raising the profile of the club.

Catlin has been impressed with the job being done by manager Alan Knill and hopes to be in a position to help him strengthen the squad in time.

“A huge plus for Bury FC is Alan Knill and the way he likes his teams to play football,” he said.

“He spoke passionately about this even at our very first meeting and this really impressed me.

“It’s unfair of me to place any pressure on the playing side of things by setting goals for them.

“Alan and the players are ambitious so I am sure that they have their own goals and agenda “I can only set goals on things that I have a level of control on and, in this aspect, I will work tirelessly to promote the club and hopefully increase revenue income as well.

“The club could also benefit on the field from friendlies, tours, players and tournaments for both the senior and youth teams. I do not want to pre-empt these opportunities as Alan and his team control the playing side of things, and it will be his decision if he sees any advantages in pursuing these options, just as we as a board will look to see if they are financially viable.”

Catlin, who owns a house on Merseyside and is considering a full-time return to the North West, has set many goals for the club — in particular making some improvements to Gigg Lane.

“There are many areas of Gigg Lane that I would like to see refurbished as I believe some investment here will attract more money to the club in the future,” he said.

“Many football clubs have been, and still are, suffering really badly with the economic downturn we are currently experiencing, and the goal of the club, both short and long term, has to be to keep us on a sound financial footing.

“I am proud to now be involved with Bury FC and I want the supporters to be proud of supporting such a great club.”