Millionaire chairman puts his boots on

John Ryan, the 52-year-old owner of Doncaster Rovers, is today poised to become the oldest player ever to appear for a professional club in England after registering as a squad member "for a bit of fun."

Ryan made his fortune through Transform, a cosmetic surgery company, finding fame as the man behind Melinda Messenger's implants. He has injected £4m into the Conference club, and now hopes to appear in the final game of the season at Hereford United.

"It's always been an ambition of mine and I said at the start of the season that I fancy playing in a game," said Ryan, who intends to start on the bench. He added that he hopes manager Dave Penney will send him on for five minutes at the end – as a striker. "I've always been lucky, so I fancy myself to score. I've put a lot of money into the club and this is my pay-back."

Ryan registered himself as a player with Doncaster prior to the March deadline. The club have yet to confirm if he will take to the field.