The club said Doughty was found in the gym at his Lincolnshire house.

“It is with enormous sadness that Nottingham Forest announce the death of the club’s owner Nigel Doughty,” the club said in a statement.

“Mr Doughty, who was 54, was found dead earlier today in his gym at his home in Skillington, Lincolnshire.

“The club would like to appeal for the privacy of Mr Doughty’s family to be observed at this sad time.

“The club will be making no further comment.”

Life-long Forest fan Doughty stepped down as chairman in October after a decade in the job following the sacking of former England manager Steve McClaren.

He was replaced in the role by former Forest player and manager Frank Clark.

Doughty, who saved the Reds from administration when he bought the club for £11million in 1999, has invested almost £100million of his personal fortune in the club.

Two Dan Parks penalties handed Scotland a 6-3 half-time lead and put the hosts on course for just a second opening weekend win in 13 attempts in the tournament before he turned villain 24 seconds into the second half.

Charlie Hodgson charged down a Parks kick before applying the scoring touch. Farrell converted and finished with eight points on his debut.

The television match official ruled against Greig Laidlaw – on for Parks – after 63 minutes, and for all Scotland’s endeavour they could not breach the white wall of defenders as England returned home with the Calcutta Cup following a first win in Edinburgh since 2004.

England interim head coach Stuart Lancaster had named a side showing 10 changes from the last Test – the Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to France, Martin Johnson’s last as boss – and was rewarded.

The pack, led by captain Chris Robshaw, stood toe to toe with their more experienced rivals as the new faces – and one old in Hodgson, making his first start in four years – ensured the defending champions prevailed.

Next up on the road to redemption following the ill-fated World Cup campaign are Italy next weekend.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson, meanwhile, remains without a win over his compatriots in four attempts, with the perennial problems of numerous errors and a continual failure to find the try-line.

Robinson now travels to World Cup semi-finalists Wales with a record of two wins from 11 Six Nations matches in charge, and facing the prospect of another disappointing tournament.

While for England it may be the dawning of a new era, for Scotland it was simply a missed opportunity.

Aguero drove home his 19th goal of the season from the penalty spot, then set up strike partner Edin Dzeko with some unselfish work after half-time.

And with Chris Baird turning Adam Johnson’s cross into his own net, City were not hindered by the wintry conditions that even left the fans to chant for the end long before the five minutes’ injury-time had been completed.

Robin van Persie smashed a hat-trick as Arsenal claimed a 7-1 win over 10-man Blackburn at Emirates Stadium.

The Dutchman fired the Gunners ahead in the second minute, but a fine free-kick from Morten Gamst Pedersen levelled the game briefly.

Van Persie and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave the hosts a two-goal cushion and Blackburn had Gael Givet dismissed before the break, which was followed by more Arsenal domination as Mikel Arteta, Van Persie, Oxlade-Chamberlain and substitute Thierry Henry made it a rout.

Substitute Kevin Doyle inspired Wolves to a 2-1 victory at 10-man QPR.

The striker came off the bench at half-time and set up Matt Jarvis 51 seconds later, before firing home the winner. Debutant Bobby Zamora had given QPR a deserved half-time lead, but Djibril Cisse’s red card for an altercation with Roger Johnson allowed Wolves a way back into the game.

Sunderland’s impressive form continued as a strike from James McClean secured them a 1-0 win against 10-man Stoke, who had Robert Huth sent off. Swansea’s on-loan midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scored and set the winner up for Danny Graham as the Welsh side won 2-1 at West Brom, who had been in front courtesy of a Marc-Antoine Fortune goal.

Second-half goals from Andrew Surman and Anthony Pilkington ensured Norwich ended a nervy afternoon with a 2-0 win over struggling Bolton at Carrow Road. Wigan and Everton drew 1-1 at the DW Stadium, with a bizarre Phil Neville own goal cancelled out by substitute Victor Anichebe.

Guest, the former jump jockey who partnered Red Marauder to victory in one of the most dramatic Grand Nationals back in 2001, divides his string of around 100 horses between a satellite yard in Bawtry and his main centre at Stainforth.

The system has been turning over nicely this year with six wins in January and now four in February after the efforts of Cut The Cackle and Crocodile Bay.

As chilly as Surrey felt, Stephen Arnold, who is a major owner of Guest’s, was warmed up by a first and third in division one of the track’s sprint series handicap.

Arnold’s Waabel took the early initiative, but 3/1 favourite Cut The Cackle put him in his place with a scything run around the outside.

William Carson and the mare owed connections a good turn as she looked an unlucky loser on her latest run at Kempton when the blindfold came off late and she did not get a clear run.

Arnold said: “She’s got it back today. Waabel’s already qualified for the final here on February 25 and Cut The Cackle will hopefully run in a 0-70 in a later round and pick up enough points to sneak into the final too.”

He went on: “I think Richard has 60-70 horses in the main yard and 35 in the satellite yard, where most of mine are. But he can switch them around and it seems to be working.”

Charles Eddery, another member of the family riding dynasty, helped Guest’s Crocodile Bay (13/2) bounce back from a moderate effort at Southwell in midweek to make it two course and distance victories in less than a fortnight in the apprentice handicap.

“He loves racing and Charles gave him a great ride,” said Kevin Hughes, representing Guest.

Tries from Aurelien Rougerie, Julien Malzieu, Vincent Clerc and Wesley Fofana enabled the beaten World Cup finalists to extend their winning run at the Stade de France to nine matches.

It means the tournament favourites remain unbeaten in home games on the opening day of a Championship since 1975, although they did not have things all their own way early on today.

Dimitri Yachvili kicked two penalties and two conversions and told BBC1 afterwards: “We are very happy to have beaten Italy because last year they beat us in Rome, so it’s a bit of revenge.

“It’s good to start the competition with a win. Many teams can win the tournament this year for sure. We are World Cup finalists and everyone is waiting for us, so it’s going to be very hard.”

Asked about their preparations under new coach Philippe Saint-Andre, Biarritz scrum-half Yachvili added: “We only had six days to prepare for this game but we have started to learn his new moves and his vision of the team. We are still learning but it’s good.”

Big Zeb has won seven of his last nine races, with his two defeats in that time coming in this race 12 months ago, behind the ill-fated Golden Silver, and at Cheltenham, behind Sizing Europe.

He meets Sizing Europe once again, but spirits in the camp are high after he gained his revenge on Henry de Bromhead’s star at Punchestown in May, and he has looked better than ever in his two races so far this season.

“He runs well at Punchestown, he’s very consistent and he’s a better horse in the spring, at least it seems that way over the years,” said Murphy.

“We’re very happy with him and everything has gone well with him, so it’s fingers crossed now. Ideally you would like better ground, but that will be the case for us all, and a few more runners in the race wouldn’t go amiss.

“Robbie (Power) will get the leg up again as Barry (Geraghty) is needed at Musselburgh, but he knows him really well now.

“On paper it’s between us two again. It could be the next day as well, and it’s our last run before Cheltenham. It’s the route we’ve gone the last couple of years and it suits us well,” he told At The Races.

Big Zeb is 7/2 for the Champion Chase with Victor Chandler, who have Sizing Europe at the head of the market at 2/1.

If he were to run with credit it is likely he would take his chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but another lacklustre showing like that of his Lexus run could make connections think twice about going to England.

The eight-year-old’s five-race winning streak was brought to an abrupt halt when he was left toiling behind Synchronised at Christmas, a performance Murphy still believes was not his true running.

“It was probably the first day he never came home. You just wonder how right he was as he didn’t gallop to the line,” said the County Wexford handler.

“Hopefully we’ll see a better horse in the Hennessy. He’s good, he seems well and I’m hoping for a really good run. I was very disappointed with him in the Lexus and we’d like to think he’s better than that.

“The Hennessy will tell us if he’s a Gold Cup horse, and if he runs well that’s likely to be his next race,” he told At The Races.

Quito De La Roque is 7/2 with Victor Chandler for the Hennessy Gold Cup in a market headed by Synchronised.

Binocular, the 2010 two-mile king, was denied his prep run in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday as the Esher card fell victim to the cold spell.

Among the options for the JP McManus-owned star is the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on February 18, although that appears unlikely. The Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton takes place the same afternoon.

Henderson said: “I’m not particularly keen to go to Gowran. I was talking to JP last night and the ground tends to be fairly soft there at the moment.

“The Kingwell does not suit me ideally as that is where Grandouet is going, and I’m not mad keen on them meeting at this stage so close to the Champion Hurdle.

“It is probably quite important (to get another run into Binocular before Cheltenham) as that is what we said we want to do with him this year. It’s for his benefit, yes, I’d like a run.

“Grandouet is in very good form. He’s all lined up for the Kingwell, which was always where he was going to go.”

Henderson’s plans for his top hurdlers were thrown into further flux with the abandonment of Ffos Las, where he had intended to run Oscar Whisky in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

He told Racing UK: “If they restaged the Welsh Champion Hurdle there is no reason why Binocular wouldn’t come into it. The situation we’re under it looks like he’s going to have to take on Grandouet or Oscar Whisky.”

Grandouet is 13/2 second favourite for the Champion Hurdle with Victor Chandler, with Binocular an 8/1 chance.

The 63-year-old has applied for the post occupied until earlier this week by Simon Grayson.

Sources close to Antic have revealed the hugely experienced coach is ready to return to the English game and would relish the opportunity to resume his career at Elland Road.

Huddersfield manager Lee Clark is 6/4 with Victor Chandler to get the Leeds job, with early favourite Neil Warnock now 4/1.

However, Antic’s press agent Paul Gough said: “Radomir will undoubtedly be one of the most experienced and qualified coaches to apply for the Leeds job.

“He is hugely qualified and immensely hungry for the opportunity. He would love the chance to boss at Elland Road – it is something he knows he would be very successful at.”

Antic, who spent four years at Luton during his playing days, launched his coaching career at Real Zaragoza, and his impressive curriculum vitae since has seen him take the helm at Real Madrid, Real Oviedo, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Celta Vigo before he was appointed as Serbia coach in 2008.

He guided his side to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa but, after a disappointingly early exit, lost his job in September of the same year.

After an opening defeat by Ghana, the Serbians stunned Germany – who went on to reach the semi-finals – with a 1-0 victory in Port Elizabeth, before a 2-1 loss to Australia ended their Group D campaign and ensured a swift return home.

Antic received a four-game touchline ban and a fine for unruly behaviour as a result of comments made in the wake of the final game.

Khan scored the first century of the series to end the day on 115 not out, alongside Azhar Ali (75 not out), as Pakistan took control and finished 222 for two at the close, 180 runs ahead of England.

“It was a tough day,” Cook told Sky Sports 1. “That partnership has really taken the game away from us. When they came in they were still behind us. The pitch has obviously changed from yesterday but they played well. I think it’s got slower and it made it a hard day for us.”

The first day saw 16 wickets fall, leaving England marginally in front of the ‘hosts’ on 104 for six overnight after Pakistan were bowled out for just 99.

However, England lost their remaining wickets quickly today to total 141 in their first innings, before Khan and Ali produced solid performances to put Pakistan into a commanding lead after Monty Panesar and James Anderson made early breakthroughs.

Anderson removed Taufeeq Umar for just six before Panesar trapped Mohammad Hafeez leg before wicket for 21 to leave Pakistan reeling on 28 for two, before Khan and Ali came to the crease.

“Yesterday was a strange day with so many wickets to fall but it’s disappointing to be on the end of it,” Cook added.

“Khan played a fantastic innings there. He took the attack to the bowlers and didn’t let them settle. We tried a lot of things to try and knock him out of that rhythm but he played really well.

“Obviously we want to keep their score as low as possible. The new ball is coming tomorrow so we’ll try to grab an early one and break the partnership as soon as we can.

“There’s enough quality in our dressing room and there’s some quality guys who can stand up. These guys have shown that once you get in it gets easier.”