Tributes paid to former Margate manager Terry Yorath after the Leeds United and Wales legend dies aged 75

Tributes have been paid to former Margate manager Terry Yorath, who has died aged 75.

The Leeds and Wales legend joined Gate as director of football in the summer of 2008.

He went on to manage the team for a year, succeeding Barry Ashby and taking charge of 44 games before resigning in September 2009.

“Everyone at Margate FC is saddened to hear of the passing of former Blues manager Terry Yorath,” said a club statement.

“Our thoughts are with the friends and family at this difficult time.”

Yorath’s arrival at Margate, where brother Dai was a club legend, caused quite a stir given his profile in the game.

As a player, he was part of the Leeds side who won the old Division 1 title in 1974 and finished runners-up in the European Cup the next season.

The no-nonsense midfielder, who made 199 appearances in nine years at Elland Road, also counted Tottenham and Coventry among his former clubs, while the proud Welshman earned 59 caps for his country, including 42 as captain.

As manager, he led Wales to the brink of the 1994 World Cup in the USA, beaten 2-1 by Romania in their final qualifying game at Cardiff Arms Park.

Club management included spells at Swansea, Bradford, Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday before finishing his career in non-league football at Margate, where another Welsh great, Neville Southall, was his assistant manager.

“I got on very well with Terry - he was a smashing bloke,” said former Margate secretary Ken Tomlinson.

“Everyone got on well with him. It’s sad news.

“I remember his favourite player at the time was Wayne Wilson - he really liked him.

“I used to have lots of chats with him and obviously his football knowledge was second to none with the levels he played at and managed.

“Coming down to this level,