A FORMER chairman of Motherwell Football Club who lived in one of Inverclyde's most impressive homes has died at the age of 81.

William 'Bill' Samuel CBE passed away peacefully at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee last week after a short illness.

The entrepreneur and businessman was Motherwell chairman in the early 1980s and spent time residing at Shambala in Gourock.

The large detached house, hidden away on the hillside off Cloch Road, is regarded as one of the town's most valuable domestic properties.

Mr Samuel's career included directorships with Scottish Opera and Scotland's national stadium Hampden Park, as well as wholesale alcohol company Lomond Property and Whisky Management Ltd, which is registered in Glasgow but has a correspondence address in Marbella for the late businessman, according to Companies House.

A notice published in the Telegraph read: "Beloved husband of the late Jackie Samuel, loving father of Gayle and Lloyd and loving brother to Elizabeth, inspirational grandfather of Ruairidh, Georgina, Lara, Nina and Will.

"Colleague, good friend and raconteur to all who knew him."

A funeral service will take place in Perth on June 17.