The managing director of Malvern Tyres has joined the board of Gloucester City Football Club.

Rob Freeman has joined the board in the role as commercial director, having worked alongside the club as a commercial partner for some time.

He replaces commercial manager Rob Ellis who has left his post in a week that has seen other significant changes made by the club.

On Saturday, Mike Cook left his role as first-team manager and was replaced by former West Ham United, Birmingham City and Aldershot Town coach James Rowe.

Former British Olympic beach volleyball athlete Jody Gooding also left his role as vice chairman, although the Gloucester-based entrepreneur will retain close links to the club.

City are making preparations for a long-awaited return to Gloucester after 12-years in exile after being made homeless by the 2007 floods.

The final piece of the planning jigsaw, a funding application to the Football Stadia Infrastructure Fund was approved last week and steel has now been ordered to start construction.

Earlier in the year, the club's co-chairman Eamonn McGurk and Ale

x Petheram issued a plea for commercial partners to join the club for their journey home.

And it seems that Mr Freeman, whose Malvern Tyres group is a well-known business around Gloucestershire and Worcestershire has answered that call.

In a statement, confirming the news the club said: "Gloucester City AFC is pleased to announce that Rob Freeman of Malvern Tyres has joined the board of directors.

"The Malvern Tyres Group have been a commercial partner for the club for some time and Rob's further involvement sees him appointed as the Commercial Director.

"Following this, former Commercial Manager Rob Ellis leaves the post but as with Jody [Gooding], remains a committed supporter of the Football Club.

"Everyone at the Club would like to thank Rob for his hard work in the role."