"“John was respected by players and loved the game, wanting it to be played in the way the public wanted. He was a disciplinarian but that was more through his attitude towards the game.”
Lyall was a scout for Robson ahead of Italia '90 and famously took Town into the inargural Premier League.
He was a much loved figure at West Ham, where he won two FA Cups and Sir Trevor Brooking told the BBC: It's a huge shock.
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"He was a much-loved figure at Upton Park and had a lasting influence on the club's development and the way the team played.
"Like Ron Greenwood before him, he encouraged good, open attacking football and all West Ham fans will be deeply shocked by the news.
"He was a man of great integrity and loyalty and anyone who knew him would have nothing but good things to say about him.
"He recently attended a players' reunion and was easily the most popular man that evening. Everyone wanted to talk to him. I think everyone in football will feel a sense of loss and our thoughts at the moment are with his wife and family."