Chris Bart-Williams: Former Nottingham Forest midfielder dies aged 49

Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Chris Bart-Williams has died aged 49.

Sheffield Wednesday announced he had died in the United States of America, where he worked as a football coach and mentor.

In a statement, Forest said they were “deeply saddened”, adding: “Our thoughts go out to Chris’ family and friends at this truly difficult time”.

Bart-Williams joined the Owls in 1991 and made 156 appearances for Wednesday across four years at the club.

He moved to the City Ground in 1995 for £2.5m and made 248 appearances for Forest, scoring 35 goals, including a decisive winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Reading in 1997-98, which secured promotion from the First Division to the Premier League.

His death came on the same day as that of Trevor Francis, who became Britain’s first £1m footballer when he signed for Forest in 1979.

Francis also managed Bart-Williams at Sheffield Wednesday and brought him on as a substitute in the 1993 FA Cup final.

“Bart-Williams’ untimely passing mirrors that of his manager at Hillsborough Trevor Francis, who also died on this, one of the darkest days in our long history,” Sheffield Wednesday said in a statement.

In a tribute, former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley posted on Twitter: “Devastating and I’m so upset to hear the news of Trevor Francis passing and my former teammate Chris Bart-Williams, both so young, it is so sad, RIP Trevor and Chris .”