West Ham United co-owner David Gold is keen to hear from new investors.

Gold believes the only way West Ham can realise their ambitions of becoming a top four club is by combining significant outside investment and their planned move to the Olympic Stadium.

Gold says the sort of money required to turn the Hammers into a genuine force - even with the move to the Olympic Stadium, now unlikely before 2016 - rarely exists.

He told the Mirror: "You have to be a billionaire to make a major difference and there aren't many of them about.

"How many Roman Abramovichs are there?

"One Roman Abramovich came along. We've seen that and he's changed the face of Chelsea and done a remarkable job.

"There isn't a Chelsea fan who hasn't applauded what's happened to their football club after Ken Bates.

"But at the same time there are other clubs, like United and Blackburn, where you have fans who are disenchanted with the Glazers and Venkys.

"Of course, I'd welcome a Father Christmas. But then you look and discover that it might not be the real Father Christmas.

"And you know why? Because there isn't a real Father Christmas. He doesn't exist.

"In an ideal world, though, if you ask what I'd like to see happen, I would like a very wealthy person to come and join us.

"David and myself are wealthy by normal standards but not by football standards.

"We would be reluctant to sell the whole football club because we feel part of it. It's taken us a lifetime to earn enough money to return to our roots and we won't give that up lightly. We're doing our best but it would be that much easier if there were three of us."