Son of Sir Jack Hayward: Fans have done my dad proud

"It was emotional and a celebration of his life - just a wonderful show of respect to him by the crowd," said Sir Jack's youngest son Jonathan.

He said the chant from fans was a wonderful tribute.

"I think dad would have appreciated it very much," he told the Express & Star.

"I know how much everyone loved dad and I did not think the fans would let him down one bit - and they have showed that."

Mr Hayward joined his father's long-term companion Patti Bloom at Saturday's game as Wolves fans, former players, and managers paid a fitting tribute to Sir Jack - the man who saved Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club and transformed the team and stadium.

Mr Hayward - himself a former Wolves chairman, told the Express & Star of the pride his father had for his home town.

"He was so proud to be born here for a start and from that falling in love with the club," he said.

"Finding it in dire straits in the 1980s his strength was always building things and now Molineux is a great testament to what he did for the club and generosity for the the town of Wolverhampton .

"Where ever he was living in the world Wolverhampton was close to his heart."

Fittingly, his funeral will take place in his home city.

Sir Jack, 91, died last Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after being taken ill while on a round-the-world cruise.

He had been suffering with lung cancer and been receiving treatment for several months.

Mr Hayward said: "He got on his world cruise against all medical advice on December 19. I spoke to him and I could tell he was out of breath. How he had the energy to speak to the Prime Minister (of The Bahamas) the day before about the future of Freeport I do not know - it was typical of dad - never thinking of himself or his health but thinking of other people."

Mr Hayward said the most iconic moment in his father's 17-year stint owning the club was when he appeared on the big screen at the Millennium Stadium as Wolves played Sheffield United in the play-off final to secure promotion to the Premier League.

He laughed: "I think it was about eight minutes before the end of the game when he realised he could do the thumbs up. It was a special moment."

Indeed, that very image was displayed around the ground with the words "Glad to have helped" - the modest message Sir Jack left in the Wolves Museum visitors' book.

Before kick-off, 91 Union Jack balloons were released followed by 200 gold and black ones. There was also renditions of his favourite songs, including Status Quo's Rockin' All Over the World - again a reference to the 3-0 win against Sheffield United 3-0 to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Reflecting on the moment Sir Jack decided to buy the club in 1990, Mr Hayward said: "At the time it wasn't a desire to own the club. He was always in the background wishing or wanting to help but when it became possible from the Gallagher brothers who wanted to move on he saw it as an opportunity as a time to give back to the town and the football club."

Sir Jack was born a stone's throw from Molineux and ploughed a huge chunk of his estimated £160million fortune into his beloved Wolves. During his 17-year ownership from 1990 he transformed a derelict Molineux into one of the finest stadiums in the country at that time.

Known for being charismatic, incredibly generous, humble, effervescent and brutally honest, Sir Jack saw his dream of Wolves being promoted to the Premier League finally realised in 2003.

Fans have called for a statue to honour him and although Mr Hayward said he was not sure what his father would make of such a tribute, he threw his support behind the scheme.

"I would love that, though dad wasn't a huge fan of recognition.

"I am sure that would be appropriate at some point in the future - where or when is for others to decide. I think everyone would love a statue in the future."

Mr Hayward went to his first Wolves game in 1981 for the FA Cup semi-final match with Spurs. The game ended 1-1 with Wolves losing the replay at Highbury. Nine years later his father became the club's owner.

He relinquished ownership of the club when he sold it to Steve Morgan for £10 in 2007 with a guarantee of a £30 million investment.

Writing in the matchday programme, Mr Hayward added: "Johnny, Dad, Gumps, special names used by all our family for my father - but most of you the Club, the fans, even the world will know my father as Sir Jack.

"I truly thought he would go on forever because his enormous personalty made one believe anything was possible."