EVERTON chairman Bill Kenwright has died aged 78 – months after having surgery to remove a cancerous tumour.
The ex-Corrie star went under the knife in August this year when the growth was found in his liver.
Kenwright was forced to stay in intensive care for longer due to complications in the procedure.
But he was told he was allowed to continue his treatment at home and was released from hospital earlier this month.
Tragically his death was announced by Everton this evening.
The club said: “Everton Football Club is in mourning following the death of Chairman Bill Kenwright CBE, who passed away peacefully last night aged 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
“Everton’s longest serving chairman for more than a century, Bill Kenwright led the Club through a period of unprecedented change in English football.
“A lifelong Evertonian, he became a board member on October 23, 1989, and then on Boxing Day 1999 his True Blue Holdings consortium acquired the Club. Initially vice-chairman, he succeeded his close friend Sir Philip Carter as Chair in 2004.
“In his 19 seasons as Chairman, the Club secured 12 top eight finishes, including a top four finish in 2005, a run to the 2009 FA Cup final and European qualification on 6 separate occasions.
“The club has lost a chairman, a leader, a friend, and an inspiration. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Everton are with his partner Jenny Seagrove, his daughter Lucy Kenwright, grandchildren and everybody who knew and loved him.”
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Everton previously told how Kenwright had been carrying out his club duties still even while recuperating from his op.
He has been chairman of the Toffees since 2004 after first joining the board in 1989.
Kenwright was also one of the UK’s most successful theatre producers.
His most famous productions include in West End hit Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Kenwright was also a judge on the 2007 BBC series Any Dream Will Do.
The former actor, who had a role in Coronation Street in 1968, was married to theatre star Jenny Seagrove.
He was previously married to actress Anouska Hempel from 1978 to 1980 and then went on to date Virginia Stride, who he shares a daughter and two grandchildren with.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
