‘I just know how much the players respected him and it was heartbreaking when I had to tell them’

Jones was Porterfield's number two for the Armenian national side, where together they engineered a shock win over Poland and a draw with Portugal in recent Euro 2008 qualifying matches.

Porterfield passed away on Tuesday night in a hospice in Surrey following a short battle with colon cancer.

Jones had to break the news of his friend's death to the shocked Armenia players yesterday morning, just hours before their international friendly with Malta.

"I just know how much the players respected him and it was heartbreaking when I had to tell them," said Jones.

"Ian was not just a working boss for me but he was a close personal friend and a friend of the family.

"It's a great loss for the Armenian team. Ian took them from 130th to 79th in the world, which is a huge leap.

"The people of Armenia worshiped him as a coach. The football fans of the country will be in mourning today."

Jones, who made 207 appearances for the Robins between 1998-2002, lists Porterfield as one of the biggest influences on his distinguished playing and coaching career.

The former Sunderland midfielder gave Jones his first big break in the professional game, plucking him from non-league obscurity with Weymouth to play for Scottish giants Aberdeen.

"Ian gave me two of my most wonderful memories in football," said Jones.

"He handed me my professional debut as a 22-year-old and gave me my first big coaching role with Busan Park Icons in Korea.

"He always had a few words of wisdom for me as a player, a coach and a friend.

"We were virtually living out of each other's pockets in Korea and that's when I really got to know the kind of man he was.

"He was a great communicator and good with psychology. He could really get into the players' heads.

"As a coach you have to pick up on all those little things because you can't buy that sort of experience and calibre."

Porterfield is perhaps best remembered for his winning goal in the 1973 FA Cup final when Sunderland upset the mighty Leeds United.

But Jones insists it was his work with national teams, including Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Trinidad & Tobago that won Porterfield the respect of the international football community.

He said: "Ian has worked on every footballing continent apart from Oceania.

"A lot of people go to foreign countries and it doesn't work out for them, but his record is second to none.

"He was a great man and people had respect for him the world over.

"I had a phone call from Korea offering their condolences shortly after the news broke of his death.

"It takes a certain kind of person to work abroad for 14 years. That he kept succeeding and being offered new coaching roles shows how well he was thought of."

Porterfield's last match in charge of the Armenia side was the stunning 1-1 draw with European giants Portugal, a night that will live long in the memory for Jones.

"Portugal fielded their strongest side and we still held them to a draw.

"Ian was so proud of the players that night and it was just one of the wonderful memories I have of him.

"The results we had together in that short spell with Armenia were just fantastic," he said.

Jones has now taken temporary charge of Armenia while the country comes to terms with the death of their leader.

Speaking before last night's clash with Malta, Jones admitted football would come a distant second to the sad news of Porterfield's passing.

"I'm in charge at the moment, but I don't want to speculate. It will be down to the Armenia FA as to what they do in the long term," said Jones.

"The players will be thinking about Ian but we need them to be as professional as they can be in the circumstances.

"The Maltese FA have agreed to fly the flags at half mast and there will also be a minute's silence. And of course the players will be wearing black arm bands.

"This is not about me, it is all about Ian. He was a wonderful person and will be sorely missed by everyone."