Dunfermline Athletic chairman Ross McArthur has led the tributes to director Margaret Ross, who died in the early hours of this morning at the age of 65. 

He made a short statement on behalf of the board and the team will wear black armbands during the match against Queen of the South tomorrow.

Mr McArthur said: "We were all absolutely devastated to hear the very sad news this morning that Margaret passed away last night at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

"Her death, at a relatively young age, will be a shock to the wider Pars family, as she had made so many friends over the years following the Pars.

"In recent years she has provided sterling service to the Pars Supporters Trust and the DAFC board as well so many other groups such as the former players. 

"Margaret was an extremely compassionate and caring lady, who fought injustice of any kind, and put in many hours of hard work on behalf of our club in recent years. She will be sorely missed."

Current and former players and fans have also paid tribute to Margaret, who was a huge supporter of both the Pars and the Scottish national team. 

In 2004, she became the first chair of the Pars Supporters Trust and played a key part in the survival of Dunfermline Athletic when the club plunged into administration in 2013. 

She led fans fund-raising efforts and, as part of Pars United, helped bring the club back from the brink. She joined the board as the supporters representative via the Pars Supporters Trust. 

Margaret was also responsible for the co-ordination of the club's volunteer programme. 

Mr McArthur continued: "The players will wear black armbands tomorrow at Palmerston as a mark of respect to Margaret, and it will be our intention to have an appropriate tribute at our Boxing Day match against Falkirk.

"In addition, our club will issue a fuller tribute to Margaret in the coming days on our media channels.

"On behalf of everyone at DAFC, I would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Margaret`s partner, Tom and all of her many friends at this sad time."

Pars winger Joe Cardle wrote on Twitter: "Such sad news about Margaret Ross. She couldn't do enough for my family and I. A massive loss for everyone at DAFC. RIP Margaret."

Former player Craig Reid wrote on Twitter: "Really sorry to hear the sad news about Margaret Ross. In my brief time at the club she was always very helpful and a lovely woman. RIP."

FergPar wrote on dafc.net: "Margaret done so much for our club in our darkest hour. Terrible shame."

Stevie wrote: "I'm stunned at this sad news. Margaret was, and always will be a Pars legend IMO. Condolences to her family and loved ones."

After returning from California in the 1980s, Margaret was a managing consultant in a multinational company working with major telecoms companies throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East.

As well as individual consultancy work, she helped build a successful consultancy team drawn from many countries in Eastern Europe. 

In 2004 when the concept of supporters’ trusts was emerging in the UK, Margaret registered the Pars Supporters’ Trust and recruited a group of founder members to help finance the set-up of the trust as a co-operative company, registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act.

She became the first chair and, over the years, the trust has given a great deal of financial and operational support to Dunfermline Athletic.