Scunthorpe United chairman Steve Wharton spent the weekend undergoing tests in hospital, after falling ill on Friday night.

The 88-year-old - who is the driving force behind plans to develop a new 25,000-seater stadium for the club at Glanford Park - was initially thought to have suffered a possible heart attack at his home near Louth.

However, club director Simon Elliot said such reports were premature, and expects Wharton to be back on his feet shortly.

"The situation is that Steve did not feel well on Friday night," he said. "He consulted with his doctor and as a result of that was taken into hospital the following morning to undergo some tests.

"I spoke to his wife several times on the telephone yesterday and she said Steve was sitting up in hospital and feeling much better."

Jamie Hammond, the club's general manager, added: "We hope he will be well enough to return home in a few days. In the meantime, business continues as normal at Scunthorpe United," he said.

Wharton, a multi-millionaire former shipping magnate, began his first spell at Scunthorpe in 2001, but left in 2002 after the club failed to gain promotion to the old second division - keeping a promise he made to the board.

In 2004 he regained control of the club from Chris Holland, and shortly after rebuffed a takeover bid worth £450,000 for his controlling share.

The club earned promotion to League One in 2005, and following a consolidation year rose to the Championship by winning the title.

Such successes prompted Wharton to push forward with plans to build the new £20million stadium, with a verdict from the local council expected at the end of April.

Scunthorpe are currently mired in a relegation dogfight at the foot of the Championship, however, and Wharton has refused to borrow additional funds to avoid the drop.

Will Tidey / Eurosport