TRIBUTES have been paid to former Newport County AFC owners’ board chairman Malcolm Temple following his death at the age of 72.

Mr Temple died at the weekend after a short illness, having resigned his post partly due to ill health in September last year.

A County fan since the 1960s, he first joined the Newport AFC board of directors in 1994.

Mr Temple was elected as chairman of the owners’ board in August 2016.

His long and varied career took in a spell as a roadie for Jerry Lee Lewis in America and a period as treasurer of Salisbury Council.

“Malcolm’s experience of international business was invaluable,” said County club president David Hando.

“His contribution was always positive.

“He’s not been able to attend matches recently because he’s not been in the best of health and this is very sad news.”

The Exiles will pay their respects to Mr Temple before next Tuesday’s match against Morecambe.

A club statement reads: “The club was saddened to learn of the passing over the weekend of our former Trust chairman Malcolm Temple.

“Malcolm was a long-standing supporter of the club throughout the non-league and League days.

“The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Malcolm's family at this distressing time.

“We will be holding a minute's silence before the Morecambe game on January 23.”

Mr Temple leaves behind wife Wendy and a daughter who lives in the USA.

The funeral/thanksgiving service will be held at St Peters Church in Stretton on Fosse, a village on the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire border, at 2.30pm on Monday, January 29.