The whole of Barnsley is in mourning today after it was announced the man who rescued it's football club from possible extinction in 2003 has sadly passed away after a battle with cancer.
Cryne was the club's owner and custodian for 14 years after buying the beleaguered outfit in 2003 after the downfall of ITV Digital forced John Dennis to place the club in administration whilst takeovers by then mayor Peter Doyle and ex Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale failed to stop the rot.
During Cryne's tenure the club enjoyed three trips to Wembley (in the FA Cup Semi-Final of 2008 and then the double delight of 2016 with Johnstones Paint Trophy and League One Play-Off success) whilst they were also triumphant at the Millennium Stadium in the League One Play-Offs of 2006. The club also endured one relegation to the third tier in Cryne's regime - in 2014.
Cryne who was born and raised in the town made his fortunes from the software giant iSoft and continuously pumped his own money into the club to keep it going. He actively looked to sell after announcing in November 2016 that he had been diagnosed with cancer and this stepped up more intensely following the issuing of a personal letter to supporters in a matchday programme in September 2017 that he was now living on "borrowed time".
Ownership eventually changed hands on the 19th December when the consortium led by Chinese billionaire Chien Lee and Moneyball founder Billy Beane acquired 80% of the club (with the Cryne family retaining 20% - son James is a director on the new board)
Sadly the club announced today that Cryne passed away over the weekend, aged 66.
To the Cryne family, everybody associated with Barnsley Football Club, thanks Patrick for all his hard work, without him there may not even have been a club to support. Rest In Peace Patrick.