Tony Parkes has died at the age of 76. The former midfielder and manager spent more than 30 years at Blackburn Rovers. Parkes joined the Lancashire club from Buxton in 1970 and made 435 appearances as a player. He scored 46 goals during his 12-year playing career at Ewood Park and helped the club win promotion from the Third Division in 1975 and 1980.
Following his retirement from playing in 1982, Parkes joined the coaching staff. He served as a caretaker manager on six separate occasions. His most notable stint occurred during the 1994-95 season when he assisted Kenny Dalglish as Rovers won the Premier League title, according to Sky Sports.
Parkes left the club in 2004 but later held coaching roles at Blackpool and briefly managed the Tangerines in 2009. Blackburn Rovers announced that players will wear black armbands during their next fixture to honour his memory, per The Guardian. The club described him as a gentleman who represented the very best of Rovers.
