Wolves legend dies at 69

Wolves legend Derek Dougan has died at the age of 69.

The former Northern Ireland international, who also had spells with Portsmouth, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Peterborough and Leicester, scored 123 goals for the Midlands club and helped them win the 1974 League Cup.

Dougan was also known as an outspoken chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association.

A Wolves spokesman said: "We are very saddened to hear of the death of one of the most talented players ever to wear a Wolverhampton Wanderers shirt."

Dougan, who won 43 caps for Northern Ireland, was born in Belfast in 1938 and began his footballing career with Lisburn Distillery.

Portsmouth brought him to England in 1959. But it was with Wolves, his sixth English club, that he really found his home after joining them in 1967.

After retirement he had a short stint as a player in the United States before going on to take up a position with the PFA and, briefly, as chief executive at Wolves.

Dougan died suddenly at his home in Wolverhampton. Jim Boyce, president of the Irish Football Association, led the tributes.

He said: "He was a bit of a legend in Northern Ireland football history.

"Derek was over in Belfast two years ago when we celebrated our 125th anniversary dinner and he was in good spirits.

"He was known as a jovial character, who always kept people entertained."