Notts County are deeply saddened to report the passing of the club's former chairman, Derek Pavis.
Derek, 87, passed away peacefully last night with his family by his side.
He was one of the most successful of all Notts County chairmen in its long and proud history. He assumed that position in June 1987 and held it for 13 years before deciding, when he reached his 70th birthday, it was time to step aside.
The most astute move he made in the early days was to recruit Neil Warnock, then manager of Scarborough, to take charge of team affairs. Bankrolled by his chairman's money, Warnock assembled a squad of players which, uniquely in the game, achieved successive promotions through Wembley play-off finals to reach the old First Division in 1991.
But his lasting legacy was the rebuilding of the Meadow Lane stadium, converting it into one of the finest grounds outside the top flight.
He remained a regular visitor to Notts games until earlier this year when struck by what turned out to be his final illness.
His condition worsened on Friday and he died in the Queen's Medical Centre.
Notts chairman and owner Alan Hardy said: "I am very, very sad to hear of the passing of the great Derek Pavis.
"He was a wonderful man and a tremendous servant of Notts County Football Club.
"I can only aspire to get close to being the wonderful man Derek was - a visionary and an outstanding leader and chairman."
The club extends its wholehearted sympathy to Derek's wife, Vivien, herself an associate director of the club, and all members of the family, as well as a wide circle of friends.