Tributes paid to ex-Shrews and Stoke manager Bates

Chic Bates managed Shrewsbury Town and Stoke City

Shrewsbury Town and Stoke City have paid tribute to their former manager Chic Bates after his death at the age of 75.

Bates enjoyed a long association with Salop, having joined the club as a player from Stourbridge in 1974. He made almost 300 appearances across two spells with the club and was named manager in 1984 when Graham Turner left for Aston Villa.

He guided Shrewsbury to their highest-ever league finish - eighth in the Second Division - in the 1984-85 season. He managed the side until 1987 and had further spells as caretaker boss before retiring from football in 2004.

Bates also worked as Lou Macari's assistant at Stoke during the early 1990s and succeeded him as manager in 1997 when the club moved to Britannia Stadium.

'A real gentleman'

Bates' arrival from non-league Stourbridge was the beginning of a 50-year bond with Shrewsbury as a player, coach, manager and supporter.

He scored 17 goals in his debut season, helping his side to promotion to Division Three, and his goalscoring exploits led to him being signed by Swindon Town for £30,000 in 1977.

Bates returned to Shrewsbury two years later and made a further 160 appearances in his second spell before joining the club's management.

He was inducted into Salop's hall of fame in 2013 and was often seen at the Croud Meadow watching his team play.

The club said its thoughts were with Bates' "family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time".

Former Shrewsbury defender Darren Moss called Bates an "absolute legend of the football club".

He added: "[He was] A real gentleman and brilliant guy to be around. I was proud to be in his company and [he] will be sadly missed. RIP Chic, will never be forgotten."

Trophy success

Stoke City also sent their condolences to Bates' loved ones, adding that he had been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's in 2013.

The 75-year-old had been assistant manager to Macari in the 1990s when the Potters lifted the English Football League Trophy and won the Division Two title.

He also worked with Macari at Celtic for a short spell before they returned to Stoke to lead the club to the Division One play-offs in 1995-96.

Bates then took over as manager for a few months before he worked as an assistant under Chris Kamara and Alan Durban.