FORMER Cricket boss Adie Voss has been found dead at his Weymouth home.

News of the 56-year-old’s untimely death shocked family and friends across the sporting community.

Mr Voss had been manager of Weymouth Cricket Club and formerly the vice-chairman of the Dorchester and District Evening Cricket League.

Police officers forced entry to his flat at Hayley Court on Chickerell Road after a member of the public expressed concerns about his welfare.

Mr Voss’s son Stuart told the Echo he hoped his father will be remembered as a local sportsman rather than for the more negative aspects of his life.

In 2005 the father-of-two was jailed for 15 months for 20 dishonesty offences including forgery and theft.

He admitted running a sporting scam which swindled people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

He told friends and associates that he had started a sports memorabilia enterprise and asked them to invest money with promises of great returns which failed to materialise.

It is believed he had not worked since being released from prison because of persistent health problems.

He did, however, remain involved in cricket and acted as an umpire for local teams.

Stuart Voss, 21 who plays for Dorchester Cricket Club said: “He was always very passionate about sport, particularly football and cricket and I have taken that from him.

“He was a life-long supporter of Portsmouth after spending his junior years there but he also watched a lot of Weymouth games.

“You cannot gloss over some of the other aspects of his past but I’ve tried to take the best bits from him.

“When Weymouth won the league in 1999 that was quite an achievement for him and for Weymouth as a club.

“I want him to be remembered as a local sportsman.”

Michael Pearce, the current secretary of Weymouth, played in the team while Mr Voss was manager.

He said: “Adie played a major role in us winning the league in 1999.

“He was most valued when he was with the club and it is very sad news.”

The Dorset team manager, Sean Walbridge, said that Mr Voss was an inspiration to him.

He said: “He was one of the people that encouraged me to join Dorchester Cricket Club so I have a lot to thank him for.

“He was someone I looked up to when I was a lad and when I used to watch the cricket.”

And John Ryan, the second team captain at Weymouth, said: “He was the type of character that would do anything for you.

“If he could do something to help, he would do it and he was very well liked.”

Those that knew Mr Voss have said that he suffered from various health problems in recent years.

In the early years of his career he played for Purbrook and Dorchester cricket clubs while most recently he had been umpiring for Bridport.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Officers attended a flat along Chickerell Road around 9am on Thursday after a member of the public had expressed concerns for the welfare of a man living at the address.

“Officers forced entry to the flat and discovered a body of a man.

“A paramedic confirmed the man was dead at 9.18am.

“The incident is being investigated but the death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.”

The spokesman said it was not for the police to speculate on the cause of death.