‘He was an absolute bloody legend’: Sky News presenter Kay Burley chokes up on air as she reveals her ‘very close friend’, former Wigan Rugby League chairman Maurice Lindsay, has died at the age of 81

Maurice Lindsay served as chairman of Wigan Warriors inspiring their success

He would also hold a role as the chief executive of the Rugby Football League

Lindsay was a leading figure in driving the inception of the Super League in 1996

He endeared himself to players and was friends with high profile celebrities

The chief of Leeds Rhinos says the sport would not be where it is without Lindsay

Sky News presenter Kay Burley became emotional on air today as she had to announce the death of her close friend, the former rugby league executive Maurice Lindsay.

Lindsay, one of rugby league’s greatest visionaries, has passed away aged 81.

Burley was presenting from the school she used to attend in Wigan – where Lindsay played a huge part in the success of the Wigan Warriors team – when she announced the news.

On Sky News this morning, she said: ‘If you are watching us in Wigan we have some sad news for you. A very close friend of mine actually, sorry that’s why I wanted my girls with me, sadly Maurice Lindsay has died, he was 81, he was amazing.

‘He was basically the backbone of the town for a very long time.’

She added: ‘He basically should have had a house at Wembley he was there all the time, we were both very close in the town and he would often take me down to be in the royal box at Wembley and we saw Wigan Athletic win in 2013 when they beat Manchester City in the closing minutes of the game.

‘So I’m sure many people in Wigan will find it hard to comprehend, as I am, that Maurice has sadly left us. He was 81 years old and he was an absolute bloody legend.’

‘The strength of his personality was critical in Wigan’s emergence as arguably the greatest club side of all-time in this country,’ said RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer. ‘One which dominated domestically and flourished internationally, and whose impact extended well beyond rugby league.

‘He was a truly unique character,’ Rimmer added. ‘He will be remembered as one of the most significant leaders in the sport’s history.’

Lindsay, who opened up on his rugby career and move into football during a 2010 chat with Sportsmail, also had a stint as team manager of Great Britain in the early 1990s but it was as chief executive of the new European Super League where the former bookmaker steered northern hemisphere rugby league into a new era.

Negotiating fearlessly with Australian media magnate Rupert Murdoch, he brokered a deal to deliver a lucrative TV contract and game-changing switch to summer rugby.

‘When he moved to the game’s central administration at the RFL, he was the leading figure in driving through the inception of the Super League in 1996, which genuinely transformed the sport,’ said Rimmer.

A colourful character, his passion for the sport and life in general endeared him not only to the many players he helped behind the scenes but to such high profile personalities as singer Diana Ross plus TV stars Bruce Forsyth and Michael Parkinson, who became a close friend.