Tributes paid to ex-Wolves youth coach John Perkins after death aged 69
Tributes have been paid to former Wolves academy coach John Perkins, who has died aged 69 following a short illness.
Perkins, described as one of football's good guys, spent a quarter of a century working in youth football – including under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest – before spending almost nine years as assistant academy manager and under-18s coach at Molineux.
As well as coaching at Portsmouth, Derby and most recently Stoke City, Perkins was in charge of Wolves' under-18s when the youngsters reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in 2005.
Sporting director Kevin Thelwell led the tributes, describing how Perkins "cared deeply for young players, had a passion for youth football and would do everything to help them improve and develop both as footballers and as people."
Thelwell also described Perkins as an "excellent coach".
Perkins worked at Molineux between 2000-2009 and one of the players to graduate into the first team under his stewardship was current first-team skipper Danny Batth, who also paid tribute.
"John was a massive help to me during my time in the Academy, both on and off the pitch," said Batth.
"I stayed in touch with him all the way through since he left the club.
"I know he was at the Brentford match only three weeks ago.
"John was one of football's good guys."