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Tributes have been paid to former Maidstone United chairman Jim Thompson, who has died at the age of 75.

Current Maidstone United chairman Paul Bowden Brown decribed him as a "great man" who was totally respected by others in the game, while ex-board member Pat Gallagher said he had "the heart of a lion".

The reactions followed news of Mr Thompson’s death at the Heart of Kent Hospice, Aylesford, on Friday morning.

He had been suffering from cancer.

Mr Thompson, who was a former managing director of the Kent Messenger Group, leaves a wife, Katie, and a son, Rod, and daughter, Fiona.

Kent Messenger Preisdent Edwin Boorman praised him as a "visionary" who had huge influence on the company.

He said: "It’s quite unusual to find someone who can have that vision, put that vision into something that was tangible and then, in great detail, make sure it all works. He was a great planner."

He added: "For me he was a lovely man in that he was very passionate about whatever he did. The Kent Messenger, which is still an independent company, is independent because of the work he did."

Former KM editor Peter Edwards said: "Jim was my managing director when I was KM Editor in the 1970s.

"He was a very talented advertising guru who, deep down, I felt, had always wished he had been a journalist. He was quick of mind, decisive in everything he did but did not suffer fools gladly.

"Under a tough, uncompromising exterior, there was a soft centre and I always found Jim to be a most kind and generous man with a well developed sense of humour and an ability to make friends quickly.

"His work with non-league clubs in getting the Football League to accept the pyramid system of football promotion and relegation deserved more recognition than it received."

There will be a full tribute to Jim Thompson in this Friday's Kent Messenger.

Watch current Stones chairman Paul Bowden Brown talking about his memories of Jim by clicking on the video on the right of the page.