Steve Lansdown: 'No regrets over being involved with Bristol City'

Bristol Sport founder Steve Lansdown sat down with our reporter Jonty Messer to discuss the current state of sports in Bristol.

Lansdown is a majority shareholder in both Bristol City Football Club and Bristol Rugby.

Struggling Bristol City are away at high-flying Newcastle United in their next match, while also struggling Bristol Rugby face Bath at Ashton Gate. Lansdown said that these are the kind of games he gets excited for.

"They are big games and everybody wants to participate in big games, I've been to St James' Park before with City and it was a great occasion. We managed to come away with a point and to be perfectly honest I would be happy with that again.

"Of course the game at Ashton Gate on Sunday is such a big game for Bristol Rugby. I hope the stadium will be packed the crowd will get behind them and the team will do well."

With both clubs faltering in their respective leagues, Lansdown said that he is sure things will get better.

"Unfortunately with sport it doesn't always work in the way you want it to, it doesn't always go in a straight line."

Having seen what happened to Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri recently, being fired 9 months after winning the Premier League, and with the knowledge that 11 Championship managers have been sacked this season, people often admire an owner who keeps faith in their manager.

Jonty asked Steve if he has kept the faith in current City manager Lee Johnson?

Steve said, "We appointed Lee for a reason, and that reason was because we saw him as a bright young coach that would help develop our players. He will help build the football club in the manner that we want it to be built."

He was also asked whether or not Johnson would be in charge at the end of the season:

Lansdown has been associated with the city of Bristol for many years now and has identified the importance of growing sport in the local area. He would like Bristol to be a city of sporting excellence.

He said, "I just feel that what we need to do with Bristol is, we need to make Bristol proud, get that pride back into Bristol. The stadium gives us a real benchmark to do that, everybody benefits."

"It doesn't matter which city you are in, everybody benefits from sport - we've got to get it back into schools."

Lansdown says that he will leave other people to debate on what his legacy will be at the clubs, and in the city of Bristol. He wants to be judged by results.

Steve was asked if he was looking to buy a football club again, would he do the same thing?

"Yes I would, I have no regrets over anything I have done in sport. No regrets for being involved in Bristol City."

"Whatever happens will happen, I cannot predict the future, I just try and get the best out of it I can."

Watch the full interview with Steve Lansdown here: