Officials and riders at Leicester Monarchs are coming to terms with the sudden death of team manager Wil Burns.

Wil, who was 64, was a star rider for Leicester in the 1960s and competed at the top level throughout Britain, finishing fourth in the British League Riders Championship in 1965 and helping Monarchs to two league titles, in 1965 and 1966.

But it is in his role as team manager that he will be remembered most fondly. He was the Scottish manager for a while but his greatest success came at the helm of his beloved Leicester, where he established himself as a master motivator and tactician.

The team Wil inherited had not been flushed with great success but, under his guidance, their fortunes were transformed. He had the ability to bring out the best in his riders and was able to turn a group of individuals into a formidable team unit.

Long-serving Monarchs rider Mick Skinner believes his own success was in no small part down to the Burns influence.

"Wil was the man who helped me in my racing career," he said. "He managed to do what no-one else had done – calm me down on a cycle speedway bike and get me to complete all my races.

"All my British individual final appearances and my two veterans' titles were down to Wil. I can still hear him telling the Leicester youngsters – don't ride like Skinner used to!"

Monarchs won a host of team titles during his time. Highlights of a glittering career would include several league and indoor team championships. His greatest pleasure came from the club's five cup victories, the most recent in 2010.

He was a hugely respected figure in the sport and his passing brought tributes from clubs around the world.