NIGEL was a good and decent man and his early death at such a relatively young age is a tragedy for his family and everyone who knew him.

I want to pass on my deepest condolences and sympathies to Nigel's family and friends on behalf of the city of Nottingham.

Nigel Doughty was a working-class boy from a Newark housing estate who rose to the top through sheer hard work and intellect and he never forgot his roots and where he came from.

"Most people in Nottingham will, of course, remember Nigel for his passion and dedication to Nottingham Forest, both as a fan from an early age and later as its owner, and the huge personal contribution he made to sustaining the club through good times and bad.

He stepped in to provide security for the club at a time it was in turmoil. More widely, Nigel will be remembered as one of our most outstanding local business leaders who started from the bottom to become the leader of a company with a global reputation.

He was, quite simply, the creditable face of business. For many years, he has also been an influential figure within the Labour Party and has provided vast experience and insight.

Nigel also made an enormous contribution to charitable causes through his charitable foundation and through donations to organisations like ChildLine and the NSPCC.

He was someone with great drive, intelligence and a real sense of social responsibility for people less fortunate than himself.

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