Leeds United is to seek support from Far Eastern firms in an attempt to shake off the financial crisis that has prompted player sales, and a revolt among fans.

The club, faced with debts of �70m, has appointed fund-raising specialist Professor John McKenzie as a director in the latest of a series of boardroom appointments.

Peter Ridsdale: Resignation calls

Mr McKenzie "will hold a specific brief to engage major corporations in the Far East in investment and sponsorship opportunities", Leeds said on Wednesday.

Besides being a "significant" shareholder in the club, Mr McKenzie is also an adviser to the Shanghai municipal government, a Tokyo cultural institute and Malaysia's Sarawak University.

In Britain, as director of London Institute's international office, he has fostered a surge in the number of students from South East Asia, after investment of �500,000 in a regional programme in the mid-1990s.

Rise and fall

The appointment develops a drive by Leeds to strengthen its board to ensure it has "the right levels of skills and controls to manage the challenges facing the company in the immediate future".

A month ago, Neil Holloway, managing director of Microsoft's UK arm and a former Leeds schoolboy, was also appointed non-executive director.

But Leeds has yet to stave off the cash crisis which has seen it sell �40m of players, including England internationals Lee Bowyer, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate, in an effort to cut debts.

Although the sales have eased some concerns of Leeds investors, and taken shares in the club 0.5p above their all-time low of 3.5p in November, they have angered fans concerned over the club's on-the-pitch performance.

Global brand

Fans are on Saturday to protest against chairman Peter Ridsdale who, while once the darling of the club, is being blamed for its downfall.

Mr Ridsdale offered former manager David O'Leary a �95m pot to spend on players as the club sought European glory, and to position itself, like Manchester United, as a global football brand.

But the transfer frenzy, while raising the club's wage bill, failed to bring the on-the-pitch and revenue rewards hoped for, and the club announced a pre-tax loss of �33.8m for the 2001-02 season.