ACCRINGTON owner Dave O’Neill believes the appointment of businesswoman Marcelle Lazarus as joint-chairperson will help boost the Stanley brand.

Greater Manchester-based Lazarus – who has built up a portfolio of mobile phone companies – takes her position at the Crown Ground with the focus on raising the club’s profile and bolstering its public relations department.

Over the years, she has developed close links with Premier League sides Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool, as well as speedway side Belle Vue Aces.

Lazarus has been working behind the scenes at Stanley over the past few months and one of her commercial activities includes establishing a link-up between the Reds and Belle Vue.

O’Neill insists the link-up is just one of several benefits that Lazarus will help deliver to Accrington over the long and short term – with the overall emphasis on attracting new supporters to games.

“There’s lot of things we can benefit from having Marcelle with us at Accrington Stanley,” said the Reds owner.

“She’s got good contacts that are infinite throughout football. She’s dealt with most football clubs in the country through her mobile phone companies.

“A lot of what Marcelle does will not be visible on a day-to-day basis. She’ll be working behind the scenes and helping out with our PR more than the actual physical running of the club.

“The bottom line is that she can raise the profile of the club and strengthen the Accrington Stanley brand.

“On a personal level, we get on really well together and have developed a good working relationship.”

The appointment of Lazarus is the latest off-the-field recruitment by O’Neill as he attempts to freshen up the club’s management team.

Earlier this summer, he added Granville Thompson, an expert in financial management, and commerical sales and marketing executive Martin Edmundson.

Another new member of staff is expected to be announced in the next fortnight, and O’Neill said: “Every week for the next few weeks, something exciting will be happening at Accrington.

“We are trying to build up the momentum before the start of the season.

“We want people to know that we are still here and we have a great product at Accrington Stanley.

"We are trying to get into everybody’s faces – but without actually getting in their face!”