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Bolton confirm death of chairman Phil Gartside

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside
Image: Bolton Wanderers football club chairman Phil Gartside has died

Bolton Wanderers have announced the death of chairman Phil Gartside at the age of 63.

Gartside, who joined the Bolton board in 1988, has died after a short battle with cancer.

He served as club chairman from 1999 and would go on to oversee a successful play-off promotion from the second tier as well as four consecutive top-eight finishes in the Premier League and two UEFA Cup campaigns.

Vice chairman Brett Warburton said in a statement: "Phil has been a personal friend for over 30 years. This is a very sad day for everybody."

Bolton Wanderers football club chairman Phil Gartside has died
Image: Gartside oversaw four top-eight Premier League finishes during his tenure as chairman

"On behalf of Eddie Davies, the board and everyone associated with the club we send our deepest condolences to all Phil's family."

Former FIFA Vice-president Jim Boyce worked with Gartside at UEFA where they became good friends. 

He was a very decent, honest, person and I know that Bolton Wanderers was his life. He will be a huge loss to football.
Former FIFA Vice-president Jim Boyce

"I am devastated and wish to extend my deepest sympathies to all Phil's family," Boyce said.

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"We were very good friends and I worked closely with him during our time together on UEFA's youth committee. He was a very decent, honest, person and I know that Bolton Wanderers was his life. He will be a huge loss to football."

Bolton owner Eddie Davies, who began working alongside Gartside in 1996, told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's sad news for all of us, especially Bolton and especially football.

"We've known about what's been going on for some time and we've kept it quiet, but it's now come to this and everybody knows and we're all very sad.

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Bolton manager Neil Lennon pays tribute to the club's chairman Phil Gartside

"We started working together in 1996 and we actually plotted how to get into the Premier League, which we achieved and we were there for 11 years. Phil was with me all that time and he built a fantastic infrastructure around the club, it's one of the best in the Premier League never mind in the Championship, and it's all credit to him.

"We were very unlucky to get relegated but Phil has been fundamental in everything that Bolton achieved in that period of time.

"He was Bolton Wanderers through and through, from being a boy, right until today's tragic day. I can't really thank him enough for what he has done. He's been my right-hand man, we worked very closely together and I'll be forever grateful to him."

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