Soccer scribe Woolnough dies

Alex Ferguson led the tributes to Brian Woolnough, the chief sports writer of the Daily Star who died yesterday after a long struggle against bowel cancer.

The 63-year-old Woolnough was a leading figure among football writers and also a well-known face on TV, hosting Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement from 2007 and previously hosting Hold the Back Page from 1994.

Ferguson said: “It is very sad news. He was a good man, a good journalist, with a good personality.

“He asked good questions, sometimes too good! That is the nature of his industry. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Woolnough leaves a wife, Linda, and three children.