DONCASTER Rovers' millionaire owner John Ryan is set to make an appearance against Hereford United this Saturday in the final Nationwide Conference match of the season at Edgar Street.

The 52-year-old businessman has invested more than £4million into Rovers and hopes to fulfil a childhood dream by making a late substitute appearance for the Yorkshire club.

Ryan was registered as a Rovers player at the beginning of the season in the hope that he would make one Conference appearance.

The Yorkshire outfit are third in the division and have already secured a spot in the inaugural end-of-season Conference play-offs.

Doncaster spokesman Steve Uttley said: "John is nearly 53 and he would be the oldest player to make an appearance for a professional club in England. He is a life-long Rovers fan, who has put a lot into the club."

United manager Graham Turner said: "Considering that he has invested nearly £5 million over the last couple of seasons, nobody could deny him his moment of fulfilment."

He joked: "If anybody would like to put £5million into Hereford United, I could guarantee that they would play every week."

A win would see Hereford finish the season in sixth place with 67 points - equalling both their highest Conference finish and highest Conference points tally, achieved in the 1997-1998 season.

United have a number of players out of contract after Saturday's match, including club captain Ian Wright who had 11 stitches inserted for an injury above an eye in the 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Southport on Monday.

The injury is likely to sideline central-defender Wright for Saturday's match, although winger Paul Parry hopes to make a return.

Hereford suffered a 1-0 defeat against relegation-threatened Leigh RMI in their last appearance at Edgar Street.

And Turner added: "We want to put on a good display, win the match, and finish the season in sixth. The last game of a season always sticks in the mind of supporters and we do not want to attend the HUISA awards evening on Saturday on the back of a defeat."