Chinese investor considers Manchester for electric vehicle base

A CHINESE businessman who has been linked to a potential takeover of Stockport County is also considering launching an electric vehicle business in either Stockport or Trafford.

Zhao Shuyuan visited the club earlier this month and also met with a group of council officials from Stockport and Trafford.

According to a statement by Stockport County he is looking at potential sites for a European base to market and distribute electric vehicles on behalf of the Tianxing Company.

He is also looking at the possibility of investing in County’s former training ground, Manor Farm in Timperley, to use as an Academy for young footballing talent from China.

Mr Zhao’s links with Stockport County go back to 2003 when he invited the club to his home city of Shenyang in north east China. He also has links with Steve Bellis, the club’s former commercial manager who now runs Wilmslow0based Kickworldwide which supports grass roots football.

In a statement put out by the club Mr Shuyuan said: “It was a great pleasure to be here and to have such constructive discussions with the club and the local authority. We made good progress and we reached some agreements. Our cooperation ten years ago has improved our mutual understanding and established our friendship.”