Sheffield United's investment in football will be strengthened - by the sale of a health and fitness club.

The Championship club, with strong interests in leisure and property has sold the Thames Club at Staines in Middlesex to a company funded by the Downing Protected Venture Capital Trusts as it looks to focus its leisure operations in the South Yorkshire area.

The Blades acquired the profit-making business in March 2006 and the sale has generated a gross profit of £0.7 million.

"Selling Thames is a strategic move by the club and will, in part, help underpin the continued investment in football," said Sheffield United Chief Executive Jason Rockett.

"The sale has realised a significant return on our investment. Thames was part of the diversification of our-off-the-field business through leisure and property, which will now have a much greater focus on South Yorkshire."

Mr Rockett indicated that the four star Copthorne Sheffield Hotel adjacent to the club's Bramall Lane stadium is on schedule to open in the autumn of this year.

It includes a new health club. The development comes on the heels of the opening of the club's Junior Community Development Centre in Sheffield.