The Crazy John’s South Dragons extend their sincere condolences to the family of Crazy John’s CEO John Ilhan, who passed away this morning.

Ilhan joined forces with the Dragons in June 2007, when his Crazy John’s mobile phone empire entered into a two-year naming rights sponsorship deal with the club.

Crazy John’s South Dragons chairman Mark Cowan said Ilhan’s death was a terrible shock.

"The club is terribly saddened to hear of John’s death and on behalf of the Crazy John’s South Dragons, I would like to extend my utmost condolences to John’s family," Cowan said.

"John was a fantastic supporter of the club, not only from a financial perspective but through his personal interest in the team.

"We sincerely appreciate his association with the Crazy John’s South Dragons."

Ilhan opened his first mobile phone store in 1991 under the name Mobile World.

From that single landmark site in Brunswick, Crazy John’s has become the largest independent phone retailer in Australia today, with over 120 retail outlets across the nation.