TRIBUTES have been paid to a Burnley FC scout who has died at the age of 61.
Martin Banks had worked for the club since August 2013 after spells with Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace and Blackpool.
He worked throughout the region for the Clarets and had been battling cancer.
Mr Banks leaves a wife, Carol, and daughters Helena and Hayley.
Martin Hodge, the club's recruitment head, said: "He was a big part of us.
"He was a genuinely nice bloke, who would always do everything you asked of him. He was a good old-fashioned scout with a modern-day nous."
He was a keen horse-racing fan and was a co-owner.
In a statement, his family said: "Martin was a dedicated husband, father and friend. His love of the game shone through, with every conversation coming back to football.
"His knowledge in the profession left him with few peers and he has passed this on to his grandson, Jackson."
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