London, Feb 2: Former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has joined the board of Premier League football club Sunderland as their non-executive vice chairman.

Miliband, who was Foreign Secretary from 2007 to 2010, will attend board meetings, help shape the club's strategy, and promote its international and community efforts.

The 45-year-old said that he was "delighted" to have been approached by Sunderland Chairman Niall Quinn "to get involved in a club that already undertakes community work in my constituency of South Shields".

"As non-executive vice chairman I hope to support the club's ambitions in both the community, through the Academy and its Foundation, and on the international playing field, where Sunderland now belongs," the BBC quoted Miliband, as saying.

Meanwhile, Quinn said that Miliband's knowledge and expertise could help the club grow on the world stage.

"As a former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with worldwide knowledge and links, he can also help us become better known around the world as we look to grow and develop the club on an international stage," Quinn said.

"His unique skills will certainly complement our highly talented existing board members whose areas of expertise include marketing and commercial, legal and finance," he added.

Miliband, long considered a future Labour leader, had stepped down from front line politics after narrowly losing the leadership race to his brother Ed. (ANI)