175,000 Bristol City spent to get top scorer Shawn Goater from Rotherham turned out to be a good investment indeed, says the man in charge of club finances.

Club director and shareholder, Steve Landsdown, who is presently vacationing in Bermuda, recognises the contribution made by Goater last season.

Unfortunately the club was eliminated in the first round of the promotion play-offs.

"He was very, very good value,'' said Landsdown, who is hoping the Bermudian striker will help lead the club in a successful push for promotion this season.

Landsdown and the other four major shareholders took over last June and Goater became their first signing when he signed for then manager Joe Jordan, who has since been replaced by John Ward. At a time when quality strikers seldom sell for less than 1 million, Goater turned out to be a good buy as his goals kept the club in the top half of the tables.

"Anybody who can produce that for you year in and year out has to be good news,'' said Landsdown. "He conducts himself very well and the crowds do take to him.

"He's a very popular player and as long as he keeps popping the goals in he'll keep that popularity.'' Goater's two-year contract expires at the end of the season and Landsdown admits the intention is to convince Goater to sign a new deal.

"We're looking to take him into a higher division and he has the ability to play there,'' he said. "We will be talking to him very early to try to convince him his future lies with us.'' The club has vast potential and whether Goater stays or not will depend on the team's achievements this season.

"Bristol is a large city, with a good supporter base when you have them behind you,'' said Landsdown. "But like a lot of British fans they take a lot of warming up. Once they warm up they are good.

"The club has a lot of potential, a good stadium with good facilities and we have the potential to go up a division, if not the ultimate two divisions.'' Added Landsdown: "You have to take it one step at a time. You can dream of the Premiership at the moment but there is a big gulf at this stage. You've got to get into that First Division and then you can build your team to get into the next one.'' City have made some important summer signings and now they are hoping to get off to a good start. On Saturday they drew 1-1 away to Grimsby Town who were relegated from the First Division last season.

"We brought in Shaun Dyche from Chesterfield, a very strong player, Mickey Bell from Wycombe, voted one of the top defenders from the division last year, and Colin Cramb, the fifth top scorer in the Third Division last year,'' said Landsdown.

"If we can stay in the top half of the tables in the first few games then we will be well set,'' said Landsdown, a Bristolian who supported both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers. The two teams drew 0-0 in a Coca Cola Cup first round, first leg match on Tuesday night.