The club has been deeply saddened to hear of the death this morning of former Aston Villa and Wolves midfielder Paul Birch.

He passed away in Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, at the age of 46, after a long battle against bone cancer.

Paul began his career at Villa Park and he was a member of the FA Youth Cup winning team of 1980. He was to make 173 appearances for the senior team at Villa Park before a £400,000 move to Molineux in 1991.

In his five years with Wolves he played a total of 142 times scoring 14 goals. He had a short loan spell with Preston before winding up his playing career with Doncaster Rovers and Exeter City.

Steve Bull, Wolves' Vice-President and a close friend and one of Paul's former team-mates said: "I went to see him on Saturday and he was heavily sedated. He looked to be sleeping peacefully but I'm sure he could hear what I was saying to him.

"While the news of his death this morning wasn't unexpected, it was still hard to take.

"It just doesn't seem right that someone who was so fit and so young should be taken like this. I'll never forget him nor will any of the lads that played alongside him.

"He was brilliant in the dressing room - a real joker who was always playing pranks along with Micky Stowell who he used to room with on away trips.

"But on the field he was a real terrier - the type I never used to like coming up against. A great bloke to have on your side.

"Certainly, his death has made me realise that you have to take every day as it comes. I'm going to miss him."

A minute's silence in respect of Paul's passing will be held before kick-off at tomorrow evening's game with Norwich.

The club wishes to offer its sincere condolences to Paul's family and friends at this sad time.