A football chief is set for a lung-bursting run for charity.

Paul Barber will swap his suit for a running vest after agreeing to run the 2014 Brighton Marathon in aid of neighbouring charity The Whitehawk Inn.

The Brighton and Hove Albion CEO, who was recently awarded the title of CEO of the Year at the annual Football Business Awards, will line up alongside thousands of runners at the fifth running of the event on April 6 next year.

The Whitehawk Inn has helped 9,000 people back into education or employment since it launched from a former pub in 1998.

Keen runner Mr Barber said: “I’m looking forward to running my first-ever marathon to support The Whitehawk Inn and members of our local community.

“Having visited the Inn just a few weeks ago, I was very impressed by the facilities and the work Frances Duncan and her team do there.”