Ex-Morton and Rangers director Freddie Fletcher dies aged 71

FORMER Morton and Rangers director Freddie Fletcher, who became chief executive of Newcastle United, has died at the age of 71 following a battle against cancer.

Greenock-born Fletcher was a councillor in the town and served as provost between 1977 and 1980, but it was for football rather than politics that he became best known, first tasting life in the boardroom as a director with Morton in 1978 and later becoming commercial director at Rangers when his employers, The John Lawrence Group, owned the Ibrox club. Fletcher also served as treasurer of the Scottish Football League and was a member of the 
International League Board.

In 1992 Fletcher was appointed chief executive of sleeping giant Newcastle United and during his colourful time with the club, he helped to drag the Magpies back from the brink of liquidation and re-establish them in the top tier of English football. A Newcastle spokesman said: “Newcastle United were very saddened to hear the news of the death of former chief executive Freddie Fletcher after a brave fight against cancer. Freddie did great things for the club in the 1990s, especially in the early days of the Premier League, and helped re-establish the club in the top echelons of English football.

“He had great enthusiasm, knowledge and football expertise and he also played a key role in bringing the likes of Alan Shearer, David Ginola and Faustino Asprilla to the club. Our thoughts in this time of sorrow are with his family.”

Fletcher was diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer earlier this year. He was a staunch supporter of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, set up by the former Magpies manager to help fund cancer research, and Sir Bobby’s widow, Lady Elsie, expressed her gratitude. She said: “I was very sad to hear the news about Freddie. He was a good friend of ours and when we set up the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, he was one of the first people Bob approached for support.”