Ronald Firth, a former chairman of Bradford Northern who resigned in controversial circumstances, has died at the age of 76.

Mr Firth, of Wibsey, was chairman of the club between July 1981 and July 1982.

He resigned in a blaze of publicity after he backed the players' decision not to return to the pitch after the entire team walked off in a game with Hull

KR in May 1982 which had seen six

players sent off in a bruising encounter.

The game was abandoned when the Northern players walked off the field after skipper Jeff Grayshon became the fourth Northern player to be sent off by referee Robin Whitfield.

The club were suspended at the time from the Challenge Cup, John Player Trophy and Premiership competitions but at a Rugby League Executive Committee meeting the ban was suspended for three years.

Mr Firth was instrumental in the decision after he represented the club at the meeting at Headingley but he stepped down from his post as chairman because of his part in the episode.

He joined the board of directors in July 1973 and resigned from the board in 1990 after 17 years service.

Bradford Northern legend Trevor Foster, who helped the team clinch three Wembley finals in the late 1940s, today paid tribute to Mr Firth.

"Ronnie was a wonderful Bradford Northern supporter for many years," said the former rugby league star. "His blood was red, amber and black. I am very distressed to hear the news of his death.

"He was one of 13 members of the club when it folded in 1964 to get together and instigate a resurrection of Bradford Northern.

"The climax of this work was a meeting at St George's Hall when 1,000 people attended and contributed £1,000 to get the club going again. Ronnie was a big part of that.

"I can't speak highly enough of a man who lived for Bradford Northern." Firth passed away after suffering from illness for some months.

He ran his own textile business, PB Firth.

Mr Firth leaves a wife, Pauline, and two sons, Tony and Howard.

The funeral will be held at St Paul's Church in St Paul's Avenue, Buttershaw, on Friday at 2.15pm.