Graham Taylor deserved more respect during his lifetime, says Tony Pulis

Former England boss Taylor, who managed Baggies rivals Wolves and Aston Villa, died yesterday of a suspected heart attack aged 72.

Pulis was a great admirer of the universally-liked coach, who shot to prominence during his successful spell as Watford manager when he guided the Hornets from the Fourth Division to second place in the First Division.

But the 58-year-old says Taylor didn't deserve the criticism that was thrown his way when he was in charge of England.

"The last time I met Graham was just before the end of last season in Streetly with his wife," said Pulis. "I sat down and had a cup of coffee with him.

"I just found him a wonderful man, like everybody has said. He was a truly great football man and I think people within football respected him very highly.

"Sometimes he didn't get the respect he deserved outside. People saying things now, it's a little bit disappointing when they criticised him that much at a certain time.

"He was a fantastic person, a fantastic football man. Old fashioned in lots of respects.

"When you see what he did at Watford and Aston Villa, and how he ran those clubs himself. He was the manager. He actually run everything.

"He had a secretary, a chairman and his lieutenants, Tom and Ernie Wally. But the success he brought those football clubs was just extraordinary.

"He was a wonderful man, but a great football man."

Pulis has been in football management for nearly 25 years and has overseen more than 1,000 games.

Clubs have expanded their set-up during that time, but the Albion head coach admired Taylor's approach to management.

"It was one person, it was old fashioned, the way I started years and years ago," said Pulis."Graham did that at the top level and did it successfully.

"I can remember going to Tottenham the one year and watching his Villa team who had just got promoted out of the Second Division, and they beat Tottenham.

"Graham was in charge of that team and they were fantastic that night, so well organised, well drilled, and well motivated.

"I played against his Watford teams when he was there early on. I've watched him coach and put sessions on and seminars on at Lilleshall, (former FA centre of excellence).

"He was a legend to the younger people because of what he achieved. And he was straight forward with it, there were no edges to him.

"He'll be up there looking down, I don't think he'll give a damn about what the people outside of football have said, it's the people in football, who know him well, that will please him because there have been some wonderful comments about him."