Richards joins 2018 World Cup bid

Richards stepped down as Sheffield Wednesday chairman in February 2000

Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards has been made deputy chairman of England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Richards, who missed out in the first round of appointments last year, will focus on international relations.

His appointment comes after Football Association chairman Lord Triesman came under pressure to include a Premier League representative on the bid board.

"Bringing the Fifa World Cup to England would be fantastic for the game in this country," said Richards.

"Along with my colleagues, I will be doing all I can to make that a reality."

Richards will work alongside fellow deputy chairmen Lord Mawhinney and Manchester United chief executive David Gill, while Lord Coe and Sir Keith Mills, two members of London's successful 2012 Olympic bid team, have roles as non-executive directors.

"We are delighted Sir Dave has agreed to join the board. As someone who is known and respected throughout the football world, he will bring to the team a wealth of international experience," said Triesman.

Since being made Premier League chairman in 1999, Richards has overseen its rapid commercial growth with total revenues more than doubling from £1bn to in excess of £2.25bn.

That trend looks set to continue after the Premier League last month tied up a record £1.782bn deal for the domestic rights to show the competition live on television between 2010 and 2013.

Overseas deals for the same period are expected to set another landmark thanks to the comparative weakness of the pound.

Top-flight clubs have seen their income leap from £170m the year before the Premier League's formation to a projected collective turnover of £1.9bn at the end of the 2007-2008 season.