Nottingham Forest have paid tribute to former chairman Brian Appleby QC following his death at the age of 91.
Appleby was Forest chairman between 1975 and 1978, and played a key role in the appointment of Brian Clough as manager.
The club won the First Division title during his reign, in 1978, and he was a director when they claimed European Cup glory in 1979.
Forest announced the news of his passing from their official Twitter account, posting: "#NFFC are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the club’s former chairman Brian Appleby, QC, at the age of 91.
"Brian served as chairman between 1975-1978 and the thoughts of everyone at Forest are with his family."
Appleby discussed the arrival of Clough at Forest in an interview with the BBC in 2019.
"Well, we were doing very badly," he said. "We were going downhill.
"Brian Clough was a very controversial figure and a lot of the committee didn't want him to come. I think they were frightened of what would happen.
"My attitude was simply: 'We can't be in any worse position than we are now, and we need a breath of fresh air'. That's exactly what Brian Clough was.
"He'd been approached and persuaded at least to come and see me - and he came to see me at my home in Edwalton village, we talked it through and he was very realistic.
"He said: 'Don't expect miracles - give me a year or two to sort it out, and I'll sort it out.
"He was charming. My wife was terrified at the idea of meeting him, because she thought he was a very formidable character.
"Within about an hour, she was eating out of his hand. She thought he was lovely.
"My little boy, who was about five or six, he was out on the lawn playing football with him."
Appleby said he always got on well with Clough.
"His public persona was very different to his private persona," he added. "He was a very kind, considerate man.
"We got on very well together. We had a good working relationship - and with Peter Taylor."
Appleby was modest about his own part in bringing success to Forest.
"Oh, I didn't achieve anything," he insisted. "I just happened to be chairman.
"My job was the administration of the club, dealing with the bank manager and any problems within the club itself.
"No, I'm not responsible at all for the achievements of the club. That was down to Clough, Taylor and the players."
But he did enjoy those times, saying: "It was exciting for Nottingham. We were a small provincial club and here we were suddenly in the European Cup and doing well.
"This was almost unbelievable. It was like a dream come true.
"I enjoyed it enormously. It was a chapter of my life which was of real pleasure and achievement. I enjoyed it enormously."
