Bradford City have unveiled the mystery investor being lined up to power-share with chairman Julian Rhodes.

The Telegraph & Argus can today reveal that the club's ambitious commercial manager Peter Etherington has been involved in hush-hush talks at the club for the last two months.

It is thought that about £2.5 million will be pumped into City's coffers in instalments. The first sum will be paid during the summer.

Mr Etherington's name has been linked with the move for some time, but the club has always refused to respond to speculation.

He has made a significant contribution to the club off the field including his re-launch of the club's former office block as a businesss centre which could bring in substantial revenue in the years ahead.

More discussions are planned when Mr Etherington, father of premiership club West Ham's winger Matt, returns from a Caribbean holiday next Wednesday. But both parties expect the deal to go through without a hitch.

Mr Rhodes said: "Peter and I are confident enough that something will happen.

"We are talking about an investment over a period of time starting in July. But it's not just about the money.

"Peter also brings a certain expertise with him as well which is ideal for the club."

It remains to be seen whether the club's shares will be divided equally between Mr Rhodes and Mr Etherington. A third, so far unnamed City fan, is still involved in the talks.

Mr Etherington has made his mark behind the scenes by setting up the Bantams Business Centre in the club's old office block which could bring in up to £750,000 a year. He believes the club is "60 per cent" of where it should be commercially.

He recently told the Telegraph & Argus: "There is a lot of work still to do but by the end of this year we'll be in a position where we are commercially fit and active and at a level we should be for a club of this size.

"We're gradually getting there to turn the commercial side around into what it should be - a traditional business that makes money."

Mr Etherington, who arrived at Valley Parade at the start of the season, has 25 years of experience in sales and marketing. His Lytham-based company Oxygen8 specialises in housing small businesses and has been involved with 60 football clubs across the country.

He has shown he is not frightened to break with tradition by rejecting the latest offer from City's long-term sponsors JCT600. A replacement will be announced when the new kit for next season is unveiled.

The club is facing a projected £1.2m loss for the financial year which Mr Rhodes has pledged to cover himself.

In May 2004 the Telegraph & Argus started the Save Our City campaign which raised £250,000 to rescue the club from administration by the end of that year.