By Jon Murray and Mark Edwards HUNDREDS of people in the football world have been stunned by the death of Maurice Evans, one of the game's great gentlemen.

Tributes have come flooding in for the former Shrewsbury Town, Reading and Oxford United manager, who died suddenly from a heart attack on Friday at the age of 63.

As the man who guided the club to Milk Cup glory in 1986, Evans will always have a special place in the annals of Oxford United FC, but it is for his huge knowledge and understanding of football that many in the game will remember him, and miss him.

Jack Casley, United's chief scout, who knew him as well as anyone, said: "He was the encyclopedia of football.

He had so many friends in the game that he could call up, he knew all the clubs, all about every player his knowledge of the game was superb.

"He was a very deep and very sincere man who would go out of his way for people. He did things in a quiet but efficient way. "He was a lovely man. It was a privilege to know him, let alone work with him."

Casley added: "Maurice was so much a gentleman, he never discussed his private life or if he had any health problems. It was such a shame that when he left United, he thought he wasn't wanted anymore. That upset him very much."

Evans, who had been an Oxford United director through troubled times, quit the Manor Ground last November when it seemed no-one wanted his advice. He took over as chief scout at Reading instead.

Jim Smith, the Derby County manager, was another greatly saddened by Evans's death. He said: "Maurice was the finest guy I've met in the game.

"He was such a gentleman, but very shrewd as well. He was a lovely person but he still had that hardness in him that you need to be a successful manager. Football was his life, he was a true football man. "I was only talking to him on Thursday afternoon when he wished me all the best for the new season, and I wished him all the best for his new season, so I find it hard to believe."

It was Smith who passed over the reins at United to Evans in the mid-eighties after a bust-up with chairman Robert Maxwell.

And it was typical of Evans that when Oxford achieved the greatest honour in their history, by lifting the League Cup, he should send long-serving physio Ken Fish up Wembley's 39 steps to receive the trophy rather than accept the glory himself.

Reading coach Martin Allen dedicated Saturday's 2-0 victory over Swindon Town to Evans.

"I've known Maurice since I was five years old," he said. "He was a very good friend of my dad and he's been a massive help to Alan Pardew and his management team.

"The club has lost a great person, and I've lost a great friend. After such a good victory, it's a very quiet dressing room, and it's been a very eerie, sad manager's office."

Evans had been associated with Reading FC for 45 years, making 459 appearances for the club and managing them between 1977 and 1984. Current Oxford United boss Denis Smith was also saddened by the news: "I am extremely upset and it completes a bad week for the club," he said.

"Maurice was a great man and that is said genuinely. You could always talk to him about anything and it was just such a shock for everyone.

"He was always nice to talk to and knew his job so well. You could phone him up to ask him about a player and he would be able to tell you his strengths and weaknesses straight away.

Port Vale boss Brian Horton, who was in charge at the Manor Ground when Evans was general manager, said: "He was just a great guy. He was a football man through and through who found so many diamonds.

"My main memory of Maurice was his love of the game. He went to as many games as he could and if there was a football match somewhere, you can bet that Maurice would be there." Ex-United centre forward Martin Foyle, who was brought to Oxford by Evans in 1987, said: "Maurice Evans was a magnificent fellow and a true gentleman.

"He brought me to Oxford and helped me a lot while I was there. I only saw him a few weeks ago, and I am absolutely stunned.

"He was a father figure for so many people. He never moaned about anything, was astute in the transfer market and every player who played for him had so much respect for him.

"He was a quiet motivator of players and was just magnificent to work for."