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LEGEND: Jim Fleeting was made captain of Ayr United between 1979 and 1983 (Image: Ayr United Football Club)
Ayrshire has been paying tribute to an “absolute gentleman”, Jim Fleeting following the news of his passing yesterday aged 70.
The former Ayr United player and Kilmarnock manager’s death was announced on Sunday 15 March, with supporters believing he was “the nicest guy in football”.
Father to former Scotland international Julie, Fleeting finished his managerial career by taking the women’s national team in 1998.
Supporters on both sides of the Ayrshire divide shared their memories of his career on social media after the news broke.
One comment read: “A brilliant player for Ayr United, but even more so an absolute gentleman that lived for football. Thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Another user said: “He was a fantastic servant to both Ayr United and Kilmarnock and the wider football family. Always had time for youngsters trying to break through to the starting eleven.
“One of life’s gentlemen, on and off the park.”
Scottish sport media figures also joined in with the tributes for the late Fleeting, labelling him as a “terrific servant”.
BBC’s John Barnes took to X and said: “Saddened to hear of the passing of Jim. A wonderful man, with great principles and full of fun.
“Respected and admired from our days growing up in Irvine. Sympathy to Irene, Julie, Barry and all of the family.”
Glasgow-born Fleeting was made captain of The Honest Men, where he played 172 times, between 1979 and 1983 before moving onto Clyde and Greenock Morton until 1986.
His managerial spell at rivals Killie spanned from 1989 to 1992 where he won promotion from the Second Division and managed the late Tommy Burns, who would go on to succeed his tenure at Rugby Park.
Other spells outside of Scotland included clubs such as Norwich City and a loan move across the Atlantic to Tampa Bay Rowdies in Florida.
His further jobs after playing and managing included Commercial Manager at Partick Thistle before working his way into the Scottish Football Association.
A YELLOW WARNING for wind and rain has been issued across Scotland for today, and Ayrshire is one of the various regions affected. The Met Office issued the alert earlier this week with periods of strong gusts, reaching up to 50-55 miles per hour, and heavy downpours to be on the way. With South and North Ayrshire Council being coastal areas, the Office has predicted winds to reach 60 to […]
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