World Cup football legends Diego Maradona and Ossie Ardiles could be coming to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The wealthy Argentinian duo are interested in investing if the Seagulls get permission for a stadium at Falmer.

Maradona and Ardiles are keen to be involved in the running of an English club with potential.

Albion have been identified by Steve Perryman and Paul Miller - two English-based former team-mates of Ardiles at Tottenham - as an ideal candidate, providing the move to Falmer receives Government approval later this month.

Ardiles, speaking from his home in Spain, revealed: "It is a possibility. We will have to see what happens. I cannot say much at the moment. I've finished with football in Japan. I am living in Spain, enjoying the sun and we will see what happens.

"I am open to everything. It would be great to come back to English football."

Albion chairman Dick Knight dismissed as "total nonsense" suggestions that Ardiles is about to replace Mark McGhee as manager.

There has been no contact so far between the club and Ardiles, although Knight admitted: "I believe it is distinctly probable that all sorts of people who have had successful careers, like Ardiles, would be interested in Albion when we get our stadium."

Ardiles, 53, was sacked by Japanese League team Tokyo Verdy 1969 in July. He has also managed in England with Spurs, Blackburn, Swindon, Newcastle and West Brom, as well as France, Mexico, Croatia, Saudi Arabia and Argentina.

As a player, he won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978 and the FA Cup in successive years with Spurs.

Maradona, now 45, was widely recognised as the greatest player of his generation.

He is best remembered for his controversial 'Hand of God' goal against England which helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup.

The Seagulls are still waiting to hear whether they will be allowed to build a stadium at Falmer. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has promised an answer by the end of the month.

Martin Perry, Albion's chief executive, said: "If anybody as a result of the decision wishes to invest in the club, we would clearly be happy to talk to them.

"We would expect those discussions to take place in a professional and confidential manner.

"All they have to do is contact us and we will talk to them, because we are going to be seeking additional investment once the decision is made."