Bill Archer, who sold off the Goldstone ground making Brighton and Hove Albion homeless, could make £300 million when he floats his DIY chain on the stock market.

Plans for the summer flotation of Focus Wickes were being unveiled today by Mr Archer.

The Crewe-based group could list for around £1.4 billion as early as June as it looks to raise cash to continue its expansion.

The group joins music retailer HMV, pubs group Punch and oil and gas services firm Wood Group, who have all announced in recent weeks plans to list on the stock markets, reflecting the current hunger for new share issues in the City.

A Focus spokesman said: "We are looking to float now as we have successfully completed the integration of the new group."

Focus is the second largest DIY retailer in the UK with more than 400 stores after a dramatic expansion programme in the past four years.

The group bought Do It All in 1998 and then snapped up Wickes and Great Mills within the space of four months two years ago.

The business, 55 per cent-owned by private equity group Duke Street Capital, had sales of £1.46 billion last year with operating profits of £106 million.

Goldman Sachs and ING Barings are advising Focus and the group wants to join the stock market by September.

The current boom in the retail sector may, however, see the plans brought forward with shares likely to be restricted to institutional investors.

Analysts believe Focus would float for between £1.2 billion and £1.5 billion and the listing would leave Mr Archer with a potential fortune of £300 million.

He founded the business 14 years ago when he bought the Choice chain of DIY shops and he still holds a 20 per cent stake.

While the flotation would give Focus more cash for its war chest, it also plans to step up its growth plans.