Leeds United chief joins tributes after death of former Yorkshire Evening Post editor Chris Bye

Ardent United supporter Chris Bye made sure the YEP came to the rescue when United were searching for a last minute sponsor in 1991.

Yorkshire Evening Post was emblazoned on the club's shirts during the season when Leeds went on to win the last ever old First Division title.

Chris, who was Yorkshire Evening Post editor and a director of Yorkshire Post newspapers from September 1987 to January 1999, died aged 69 on Monday March 8 after a short cancer battle.

Former YEP production editor Howard Corry said: "Chris was an innovative, inspirational and imaginative editor who demanded the best from his staff and gave much of himself for the paper he loved."

"He was a larger than life figure in many ways; he led the paper to greater things and masterminded a 12-edition a day campaigning Yorkshire paper that was respected by its readers.

"One of his triumphs - and there were many - was the unforgettable season when Leeds United lost their sponsorship at the last minute.

"Chris persuaded the board to spend the paper’s annual promotional budget and won the deal - for very little.

"He was right - Leeds won the league that year with Yorkshire Evening Post on their shirts!

"Illness cut his career short but it didn’t stop him writing and campaigning right up to his death. I’ll remember him with affection, admiration and a little awe."

Leeds United's chief executive Angus Kinnear, said: "Our thoughts are with Chris’ family, he was clearly one of the unsung heroes from a wonderful time in the club’s history.

“The Yorkshire Evening Post logo on the front of our shirt has a cult status amongst our fans and the partnership represents the community spirit that our city is famous for.

“I’m told that Chris played a pivotal part in creating and maintaining a strong relationship between the fans, the YEP and the club, which is still evident today."

Chris's widow Annette said: "He had a keen wit and sense of humour, he swam against the tide, a maverick, he stood up to authority, he challenged.

"A true gentleman, erudite, well-read, lover of the arts. He was the most loving, devoted husband."

Chris leaves three children from a previous relationship: Simon, Laura and Edward and three grandchildren: Alex, Matilda and Alice.

He also leaves brothers Anthony and Tim and sister, Elizabeth.

Chris Bye was born in February 1952 in the former maternity hospital at Hazlewood Castle near Tadcaster and went to Tadcaster Grammar School.

He was a talented footballer who had signed for York City as a teenager before deciding to focus on a career in journalism.

Chris started out as a trainee reporter with the Harrogate-based Ackrill weekly newspaper group in 1970 and was appointed deputy editor of the Wetherby News in 1972.

He was senior reporter at the Bradford Telegraph and Argus before joining the Yorkshire Evening Post as a 22 year old reporter in 1974.

Chris, of Bardsey, Leeds, was news editor of the Yorkshire Post and editor of its colour magazine and was Yorkshire Post deputy editor from 1982 to 1987.

The Yorkshire Post won two British Press Awards in one year under his deputy editorship.

He was made editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post aged 35 in September 1987.

Chris retired early aged 46 in January 1999 on ill health grounds.

He fought his illness and enjoyed a new career writing classical music reviews for the British Music Society along with autobiographical stories for the Dalesman.

Chris has also worked as a freelance journalist for several national newspapers and was Britain's correspondent for the South African Sunday Express.