US swimming star Michael Phelps will be involved in the business operation of a swimming club in his hometown, Baltimore, Maryland, a founder said on Tuesday.

Phelps will resume business talks with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club after he returns from Beijing, China, where he has won eight golds for the U.S., said the club founder, Murray Stephens.

He told NBC in an interview that the 23-year-old athlete and his coach, Bob Bowman, had developed business plans after they return to Baltimore.

"We want Bob and Michael to be involved in helping the swimming program grow. The what and how of these things have not been finalized at all."

Stephens also said that it could take months to work out all details of any business agreement.

Phelps earlier confirmed the plan with the TV, saying "Bob and I are starting up a new business back in Baltimore with the pool that we just bought, so we're going to make some adjustments and see what we can do to take that sport to the next level."

The two spent the past four years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Phelps went to the University of Michigan and Bowman served as a head swimming coach there.

The Michigan men's swimming team announced in April that Bowman was leaving for Maryland to be a coach in the North Baltimore Aquatic Club.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2008)