By David Green BBC News Online, Manchester

But Sir Bob Scott - who fought two Olympic campaigns for Manchester - admits the phone in his office has not been ringing too much of late.

Sir Bob Scott's Career 1967 - Arrives in Manchester to head the 69 Theatre Company 1976 - Sets up the Royal Exchange Theatre 1985 - Forms Manchester Olympic Bid Committee 1994 - Knighted in the New Years Honours List 1995 - Wins Commonwealth Games 2002 for Manchester 1996 - Wins Millennium Festival for Greenwich 2003 - Wins Capital of Culture 2008 for Liverpool

Not that the man who bought the Commonwealth Games to the city and who is on first name terms with many International Olympic Committee members is complaining.

Because Sir Bob - as his staff affectionately call him - is still busy, having decided to stay in charge of Liverpool's successful Capital of Culture 2008 team.

But the 59-year-old admits he wants to be involved in the capital's Olympic bid, which, he fears, has little chance of success after the "disastrous" World Cup and World Athletics Championship bids.

"I'm quite surprised I haven't been invited aboard the process," he says.

"If I was them, I would want to talk with somebody who has been through it twice before."

Gracefully, he says the London team is "getting its feet under the table" and may get in touch.

You get the impression he is not holding out much hope - but London's loss will probably turn out to be the North West's gain.

Because Sir Bob has done more than most to eradicate its flat cap and cobbled street image.

Arriving in Manchester in 1967 after acting in the West End, the British diplomat's son began a "35-year love affair" with the city.

Manchester's Commonwealth Games was hailed a success

He launched the city's Royal Exchange Theatre and the revival of Manchester's other two major theatres, the Palace and the Opera House.

Then, in 1984, he had an idea that, in the minds of many, marked him down as a mad man.

"Everyone was saying what great shape the Olympics were in after Los Angeles in 1984 following the problems during the 1970s," he says.

"I decided that the demographic of Manchester was rather similar to Los Angeles.

"People thought I was an absolute lunatic, but it grew and grew and, whenever I expected a door to be closed in our face, it was opened."

As chairman of the city's bid committee, he lost out to Atlanta and Sydney for the 1996 and 2000 Games.

I wouldn't be a very good retired person - I'm not particularly looking forward to gardening and reading Sir Bob Scott

But the campaigns raised the city's profile and triggered its regeneration.

Despite a brief sabbatical to bring the Millennium Festival to Greenwich - this adopted northerner is now back in Liverpool.

Many hope the Capital of Culture will change the city's image for good, as it did for Glasgow in the 1990s.

He says: "I don't subscribe to the view that Glasgow was a success because the culture prize was a novelty and that therefore Liverpool will not be so successful.

"Very few cities play better internationally than they do nationally.

"But if you ask an American about Liverpool, they see it as the home of the Beatles and as the source of so much maritime immigration, while in Europe it is known for its football."

Maybe after 2008 he will call it a day and spend more time with his wife, Alicia, in their home in Greenwich.

Liverpool's Capital of Culture win was Sir Bob Scott's latest success

Certainly he will keep alive his two passions: sport and music.

"Watching Seb Coe win gold medals and listening to Pavarotti for me are very similar experiences" says the man who also cites I'm Looking Through You and All You Need Is Love as his favourite Beatles songs.

But despite being on medication after suffering a heart attack last November, he insists he has no plans to slow down.

"The heart attack did give me a sharp kick in the bottom and I have changed my lifestyle in some ways," he says.

"But I am 59 and I've got to earn my living.

"Anyway, I wouldn't be a very good retired person - I'm not particularly looking forward to gardening and reading."