FORMER Bury manager Jim Iley has died at the age of 82.

Mr Iley, who was appointed the Shakers’ manager in July 1980, died on Saturday.

Born in the Yorkshire mining heartland of South Kirkby, he was working as a coal miner at Frickley Colliery when he joined Sheffield United in June 1953.

After forging a reputation as a cultured wing-half he was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur a little more than four years later for a fee of £16,000.

Spells at Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United followed and he then became player-manager at Peterborough and, after ending his playing career, Barnsley.

A short stint as Blackburn Rovers boss followed before Mr Iley’s appointment at Gigg Lane, where he took charge of 192 games, winning 75 of them before he was sacked in February 1984.

As with many of his positions, he often laid foundations for successful sides, as Peterborough, Barnsley and Bury were all promoted in the season following his departure. He later managed Exeter and joined the scouting staff at Charlton.

“The thoughts of everyone at Bury Football Club are with Jim’s family and friends at this difficult time,” read a club statement.