Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell has paid tribute to former Aston Villa owner Sir Doug Ellis, who died this week.
Mr Mitchell said: "I am mourning the loss of a great friend and a major philanthropist."
Ellis, who lived for much of his life in Sutton Coldfield, died at the age of 94.
He had two spells as Villa chairman, firstly between 1968 and 1975, then from 1982 until 2006 when the club was sold to Randy Lerner.
He became a life president of the club and was knighted for his charity work in March 2012.
Mr Mitchell (Con) said: "Sir Doug Ellis was a hugely respected citizen of Royal Sutton, a wonderful local and national philanthropist, a football giant and a lovely man.
"I and his many friends and admirers mourn his passing and will miss him deeply."
Ellis stood down from the Villa chairmanship in 2006 due to deteriorating health.
He had two spells as chairman, the first from 1968 to 1975 and then again from 1982 until the club was sold to Randy Lerner. He became life president in 2012.
He appointed 14 different managers in that time, earning himself the Deadly nickname from Jimmy Greaves for the way his regular firings.
Ron Atkinson once famously quipped: "The chairman tells me he's right behind me and I answered: 'Yes, chairman, that's what worries me!'"
As a teenager he had been on the books as a footballer at Tranmere Rovers but he was destined to have more influence in the powers of corridor than on the pitch.
He became a millionaire in his 30s by pioneering package holidays to Spain and, at the pinnacle of his business career, he owned 19 different companies. His ventures included construction, newspaper publishing and cider brewing.
In the 1990s and early 2000s he was one of 12 members of the FA's international committee, alongside Stoke chairman Peter Coates, who helped appoint England managers.
Ellis, who had briefly been a director at Birmingham City in the 1960s, was knighted for his charity work six years ago.
He was a donor to the Conservative Party.
