Former Albion and Worthing manager Barry Lloyd has died, aged 75.

Lloyd took the Seagulls to promotion from the third tier and an unexpected appearance in the second tier play-off final during his tenure, which ran from January 1987 until December 1993.

He was a pioneer in spotting bargain transfers from overseas, including the front pairing of Michal Small and John Byrne which powered the club to Wembley in 1991.

Lloyd was the man who brought short-lived but still beloved Soviet star Sergei Gotsmanov to the Goldstone.

He is also credited with planting the seeds of a youth policy which would begin to bear fruit during his tenure and was chief scout for several seasons from 2007.

Albion have sent sincere condolences to Lloyd’s family and friends.

The players will be wearing black armbands at today’s game against Chelsea and there will be a minute’s applause at next weekend’s home game against Tottenham Hotspur.