Patrick Cryne has been described as the most important figure in the history of Barnsley FC since it was formed in 1887.
The 66-year-old Wombwell died over the weekend after a 15-month battle with cancer and four weeks after selling the club to a consortium headed by Chien Lee. He leaves his wife Jean and son James who is on the new board and retains a 20 per cent stake in the clib.
Cryne, who made his personal fortune with software company iSoft, was a lifelong Barnsley fan and bought the club in 2003 when it was at risk of folding. Arguably his most important contribution to the club – after the initial rescue from possible closure – came in the last three years. The club has focused on developing young players, making tens of millions from high-profile sales, and also enjoyed success on the pitch in 2016 with Wembley wins in the finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and the League One play-offs.
Since the news of his death on Monday, tributes have poured in from former colleagues, staff members and players.Barry Taylor, a director at Oakwell for 34 years until earlier this month, introduced Patrick to then Reds chairman Peter Ridsdale in 2002. He said: "Over the next 15 years, we worked very closely. We had some heated discussions but everything Patrick did was for the well-being of Barnsley FC.
"He wanted to make the club self-sufficient which, in today's football world, is very difficult. Patrick had a tremendous financial brain and, without him, the club could have disappeared.
"He was a very private and shy man and he used to sit in the corner during board meetings, letting me do the meeting and greeting and usually the talking.
"After Reverend Tiverton Preedy (the club's founder) Patrick has probably been the most important and influential person in the history of Barnsley Football Club. I am very sorry for the loss of Patrick and I send my condolences to his family."
Anthony Kay was one of the players at Barnsley when the club went into administration and stayed on during the early years of Cryne's ownership. The 35-year-old is from Darfield and his mother is a long-term friend of Patrick's wife Jean. Kay, who is still playing for Port Vale, said: "When the club went into administration, we all had our wages cut and everyone was worried about the club's future. It was a very tough time.
"There were a lot of rumours that Patrick would take over and then he did which shows he was a man who, if he said he was going to do something, he would do it. He came in and steadied the ship. A couple of years later we got promoted and the club has been pretty solid ever since. It's great when you have an owner who is from the town and really cares. He gave so much back to the club and you could tell he was a fan by the way he ran the club."
Bruce Dyer was also at Oakwell during the financial problems and now runs community projects in the town, which Cryne has supported. He said: "There's no doubt about it: Patrick saved the club. It's a fact. Everything that the club is now and what it will go on to be under the new owners is because of him. He put his money where his mouth was to save the club he loved and the Cryne family made a lot of sacrifices.
"Personally, I will always be grateful to him for endorsing the soccer schools and other events we have had at Oakwell. He was always behind it and he helped to make a lot of kids happy."
Stephen Foster, who made 244 appearances for the Reds between 2007 and 2013, has some idea of how the Cryne family will be feeling. He said: "I went through something very similar with my dad and it is a very tough time. My heart really goes out to his wife and his son. I didn't see much of him during my time at the club, and I've probably spoken to him more in recent years when I have been at Barnsley games. He's very softly spoken but a genuine man and you can tell he loves the club.
"It's not just the money he has invested but the time and effort over the years and I am sure the fans all areally appreciate that. I am glad he had the promotion and the Wembley trips towards the end of his spell."
Barry Murphy, the club's all-time leading appearance-maker and a current matchday host at Oakwell, said: "Patrick was a quiet man who never raised his voice, he just got on with his business. But he was a very nice person who would never walk past you without saying 'hello' and asking how you were. All fans will love and appreciate him for what he did for the club. Every time the club was struggling, he would pick us back up.
"The news is extremely sad and it's come a bit sooner than a lot of us expected. He only sold the club a few weeks ago. It's a sad time for the fans, the club and most importantly his family."
Maurice Watkins was a long-time friend of Cryne's and was Barnsley chairman for the last four full seasons of his ownership of the club. Watkins said: "Having worked with Patrick Cryne for four seasons as club chairman, the overriding impression he left with me was that of a man who had a love and passion for Barnsley Football Club. He was always attentive to the views and aspirations of the supporter but, while a true fan, he was not prepared to risk financial stability in the pursuit of glory.
"It is very sad that serious ill health prevented him from enjoying longer at the helm before he had to look to transfer ownership but it is perhaps some consolation that he was also able to enjoy the two Wembley appearances in 2016. You could tell how much these successes meant to him and his family. His custodianship of the club will be remembered for a long time."
The tributes were not confined to former Barnsley staff, with MP Dan Jarvis adding: "I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Patrick Cryne. Barnsley Football club exists today because of the stewardship of Patrick. Though some get involved with football for glory or reward, Patrick was only ever interested in what was best for Barnsley FC. He was the most loyal fan and a true gentleman.
"His final act was to ensure that the ownership of the club passed to people who can take it to the next level. It is particularly sad that he won't see the successes that I hope we will see at Oakwell over the coming years but I am heartened to know that Patrick's son will remain on the Barnsley FC board. In the words of our fans, he was, simply; one of our own."
