Wycombe Wanderers has announced the death of former manager and chairman Brian Lee at the age of 86. 

He was taken into hospital on Saturday after becoming unwell, just two days after the funeral of his wife of more than sixty years, Shirley Ann. 

He died in his sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning. 

The Ex-Players Association has described Lee as a giant in the club’s history, leading the Chairboys to four Isthmian League titles in four years in the 1970s. 

He later became Chairman, and was involved in planning the move from Loakes Park to Adams Park in 1990, as well as the appointment of Martin O’Neill, the manager who took the club into the Football League in 1993. 

Tributes have poured in online, with Chairboys Director Pete Couhig saying that football has “lost a great one” and Wycombe captain Joe Jacobson saying he was “so saddened” to hear the news, having been fortunate enough to meet him a few times and share his “wealth of knowledge about football”. 

Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth has also shared a tribute to Brain today.

Brian Lee was one of the first guests on the first series of The Wycombe Wanderers Show and spoke to Colin about how he got involved with the club and his memories of his time as a Manager and Chairman of the Chairboys

Former Managers, Presidents, Directors, Players and members of the Wycombe Wanders family have shared their tribute to Brian which can be found on the club’s website

“Brian was a great influence in me getting the Wycombe job and a great support ever after. He’s a massive part of the club’s history and his legacy lives on following all the work he did getting us to Adams Park.“

Martin O’Neill (Wycombe Wanderers Manager 1990-95)

Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and friends.