NEWPORT County AFC director Howard Greenhaf says the club is open to all offers of new investment and would welcome a fresh approach from Matt Southall.

Former director Southall headed a consortium that offered to provide a significant cash injection into the club three years ago.

Talks broke down with both sides blaming each other and Greenhaf has faced criticism from some fans ever since.

But Greenhaf – now the Exiles only director after chairman Les Scadding’s departure this week – has reiterated that he was not to blame for the consortium pulling out in September 2012.

“People continue to state that we turned down investment but that is a fabrication,” said Greenhaf.

“We have never turned down investment.”

Asked if the club would consider a fresh approach from Southall, Greenhaf said: “Of course, why wouldn’t we?

“If he wants to get involved then we’ll happily consider that.

“And I’ve always said that I’d be happy to stand aside if someone else wants to come in.”

Greenhaf says Scadding’s departure did not come as a shock to anyone at the club but he has rubbished rumours of a falling out with the man who is still the club’s majority shareholder.

“It is no surprise to us,” he said. “Les wants to retire and we all knew that this was coming.

“It is very amicable and in terms of the budget and the way the club is run it will not make too much difference.

“Les has not been involved in the day to day running of the club for some time and his departure won’t affect the budget that Terry Butcher has to work with.

“We set the budget knowing that there would be no additional funds from Les for the new season.

“The only way forward for the club is for us to find new investment and we are actively seeking that.”

After a period of negative headlines surrounding the club Greenhaf is keen to concentrate on the positives.

“From the outside what has been going on at the club could look very negative,” he said.

“But sometimes you have to take a step backward to go forward and we want to build a sustainable future for the club on solid foundations.

“We trust Terry to do the job he has been brought in to do and he and his team are busy recruiting players.

“Off the pitch we are looking for investment and there is the possibility that some of the non-executive directors could become full directors.

“A lot of the criticism and negativity could put people off joining so we need to put a stop to that.

“I’d say to the fans who are having a go ‘stop criticising and come and join the board, be a director’ because we all want success just like you.”