HERE in the North-East, we have seen how a football club owner can have a positive effect on their local community.

Steve Gibson has worked tirelessly to promote and improve Teesside, both in his role as the chairman of Middlesbrough Football Club and via his business and charity links.

During his time in charge of Sunderland, Sir Bob Murray set up the Foundation of Light, a charitable organisation that has transformed lives across Wearside and recently opened the Beacon of Light, a £19m facility located in the shadow of Sunderland’s football stadium.

Stewart Donald, the Black Cats’ new owner, is doing all he can to restore former glories on and off the field.

All three men have used the power of football to achieve wider improvements, and it is clear that Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who tragically died in a helicopter crash on Saturday evening, was every bit as transformative during his time as the owner of Leicester City.

Not only did the Thai businessman help engineer one of the greatest sports stories of all time as Leicester won the Premier League title, he also supported a host of charitable causes in Leicester and his homeland.

He donated more than £1m to the hospital that is close to the King Power Stadium, and would hand out free beer and doughnuts to supporters to thank them for their backing.

Some football club owners are rightly derided for their actions, but others are not involved for personal gain. Mr Srivaddhanaprabha will be badly missed.