Brentford owner Matthew Benham has reportedly appointed bankers Rothschild to explore new investment for the club.

Benham first invested in the Bees in 2007 with an initial injection of £3m to help the West London club out of a financial predicament.

The longtime Brentford fan subsequently completed a full takeover in 2012 when the club were playing their football in League One.

Since assuming full control, Benham's data-driven approach has helped Brentford secure promotion to the Championship and the Premier League.

Benham also oversaw Brentford's departure from their old home at Griffin Park to the new Gtech Community Stadium in 2020.

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According to Sky News, the Oxford University graduate is now willing to explore new investment opportunities for his boyhood club.

The report claims that Benham has appointed Rothschild to look into the potential of minority investment or even the prospect of selling a majority stake, with the 55-year-old said to value the club at £400m.

However, Benham is still keen to retain at least a minority share of the club even if he does decide to sell his controlling stake.

In a statement issued to Bloomberg News in December, Brentford said: "Given the recent rise and growth of our club and the changing shareholder landscape within the Premier League, it's no surprise that there has been interest in investment opportunities at Brentford FC.

"While Matthew Benham's commitment to the club remains as strong as it ever was, it is only natural, and perhaps even essential, for us to carefully explore what new investment could potentially mean for the future of Brentford FC.

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"We must not stand still and we remain absolutely determined to safeguard the long-term future of Brentford FC and to remain competitive in the world's most challenging and successful league."

Rothschild recently acted on behalf of the Glazer family in a deal that saw Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquire a 27.7% stake in Manchester United.

The banker is also said to be working with West Ham United director Vanessa Gold, who is considering selling part of her 25% stake.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Brentford are currently sitting in 14th place with five points separating them from the bottom three.

After losing 1-0 to Manchester City in midweek, Thomas Frank's side will return to action with an away game against West Ham on Monday.