SWINDON Town chairman Jed McCrory has left the door open for former majority shareholder Andrew Black to return to the club.

Black sold his 98 per cent stake in the Robins to McCrory’s Seebeck 87 Limited last Thursday, ending a five-year association with the County Ground club.

The Betfair co-founder released an intriguing statement over social networking website Twitter in which he opened up about a turbulent and fragile final 18 months at the helm of Town - but despite those revelations McCrory hopes he may consider investing in the club in the future.

“I’d like to thank Andrew Black because I thought he was impeccable,” he said.

“He was a man of his word on a handshake which I respect massively because I think that’s a trait that’s gone down a little bit over the years.

“I would welcome him back here any day of the week. Of course I would. You can’t not have people like Andrew.

“It’s not the money side of things; he’s such an intelligent guy and such a caring guy for the community.

“I don’t think that was ever portrayed properly.

“I don’t think people realised how much he liked this club and wanted to grow the club in certain areas.

“I think it’s a real shame. He’s missed an opportunity and hopefully he’ll come back. Swindon Town Football Club would be a much better place with people like Andrew associated to it and I would welcome anybody who wants to take the football club forward.

“The football club is a huge part of the community and if we don’t support football clubs where have the kids got to go nowadays?”

McCrory was at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday to oversee his first victory as chairman, as Town came from behind to win for the first time this season.

Newly-appointed manager Kevin MacDonald got off to a triumphant start thanks to late goals from Andy Williams and former caretaker boss Darren Ward in a 2-1 win at Coventry.