Death of the Doog

Wolves legend Derek Dougan died from a massive heart attack minutes after making a desperate phone call to his partner.

The 69-year-old – forever known as The Doog to fans – was struck down with chest pains yesterday morning rang his partner Merlyn Humphries from his Wolverhampton home just after 10am.

Click here to leave your tribute to the Doog.

Fighting back tears today, Ms Humphries, of Wightwick, said: "He called me at my home yesterday at 10.10am and all he could say was 'Merlyn'.

"I raced round and found him dead in the chair with the phone still in his hand.

"I called the ambulance and they told me to resuscitate him, which I tried but it was no good."

Only the day before Mr Dougan, of Stockwell End in Tettenhall, was laughing and drinking with friends, including former Wolves deputy chairman Doug Hope, at The Bentlands pub in Codsall.

Ms Humphreys today described the star as "a very lovely, loving, colourful man" as tributes poured in from the world of sport.

Dougan played 323 times for Wolverhampton between 1967 and 1976, scoring 123 goals over eight seasons. He also won 43 caps for Northern Ireland alongside teammate and close friend George Best.

In 2005 he was a pall-bearer at Best's funeral.

Dougan took over as chairman and chief executive of Wolves in 1983 and was part of the ill-fated Bhatti brothers regime during a turbulent period at Molineux.

A member of the United Kingdom Independence Party, earlier this month he appeared on political TV show Question Time.

He previously suffered a heart attack in 1998.

He leaves two sons, Alexander, aged 42, Nicholas, 40, and grandson Alexander, aged 15.

Don't miss a four-page special tribute in Monday's Express & Star.