FORMER Weymouth striker Jim Dailey, who later became a well-known businessman in the resort, has died aged 74.

Airdrie-born Dailey, who also had spells of management in local Football with Bridport, Portland and Dorchester, joined the Terras in 1959 after being snapped up from Rochdale by the then Terras' manager Arthur Coles. Before that, the goalscoring centre-forward had been the subject of a £10,000 move from Sheffield Wednesday to Birmingham City - big money in 1949 - and he also played for Wolves.

After football he followed in the footsteps of the man who had brought him south, when he bought Arthur Coles Sports Outfitters shop in St Mary's Street in Weymouth and changed its name to Weymouth Sports.

Following his retirement he moved to Spain but returned last year due to ill health.

His two grandsons Jimmy and Levi are currently on Portland United's books.

His son Jim Dailey, who runs Weymouth Bed Centre at Upwey, said: "Football was his life. He'll be sadly missed by all his friends in the game."

Mr Dailey had two seasons with the Terras, scoring on his home Southern League debut when his side lost 3-2 to Headington United in front of 4,355 fans at the old Rec.

He finished that season as the club's top league scorer with 31 goals and the following season he scored 11 goals.

In all he scored 55 times for Weymouth before following manager Coles when he moved on to take over at Bath City in 1961 and was replaced at Weymouth by Frank O'Farrell.