Gary Speed: ‘We’ll ask why for years’

The 42-year-old was found hanged at his home on Sunday morning, only a day after appearing live on national television and chatting amiably to his friends and former colleagues in the sport.

Speaking outside the star’s Cheshire home, Speed’s agent and best man at his wedding, Hayden Evans, said: “Gary’s family would sincerely like to thank all the people that have sent messages of condolence and tributes in what is a very difficult time.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support and it really has helped.”

Those who played both alongside and against the former Leeds United, Everton and Newcastle United midfielder expressed shock and disbelief, with no further indications as to why he took his own life.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) yesterday opened a book of remembrance in the father-of-two’s honour. An emotional Jonathan Ford, FAW chief executive, said the football community may never know the reasons behind Speed’s death. “We can’t fathom it, we can’t understand it and I think we will be guessing for many years to come,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Constabulary confirmed that the inquest was to be opened at Warrington Coroner’s Court at 3pm today, but said the force would not comment on whether a note had been left by the footballer.

Police said his body was found at his home in Huntington, on the outskirts of Chester, but that there were “no suspicious circumstances.”

Former Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan, was among those to praise Speed. The Scot starred alongside the Welshman in a Leeds team which won the old 1991-92 First Division title.

He said: “People have problems in footy where you have an indication that something is wrong, but this one is right out of the blue.

“I trained beside him for six years at Leeds and I was proud of Gary Speed every time I saw him play or train. He wasn’t the most talented of kids when I first saw him but he wanted to make himself better.

“I used to say to players ‘If you want to look at somebody to see how to be a footballer, look at Gary Speed’. I am going to miss his laugh. He had a child-like laugh. I’ll forget the goals but I will never forget his laugh.”

Former Scottish international Gary McAllister also played with Speed at Leeds, and the pair appeared together on BBC1’s Football Focus on Saturday.

He said: “Twenty minutes before we went on air on Saturday, he was the normal Gary Speed to me. He was very excited about the prospects of the Welsh national team and was upbeat, looking class, immaculately presented.”

Everton’s Glaswegian manager, David Moyes, also paid tribute to Speed, who played at the club between 1996 and 1998.

“Gary was a great servant to Everton during his time at Goodison and myself and the rest of the squad were as shocked as the rest of the footballing world when we heard the news,” said Moyes.

“It’s hard to understand and obviously the thoughts and prayers of everyone connected with the club are with the family at what is a very difficult time.”

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay urged the FAW to carry on the legacy Speed left from his time in charge of the national side. “You look at his career and the amount of games he played and the amount of top level teams he played for tells its own story of how professional he was,” said the Scot.

“But at a personal level the amount of people of a high standing who have come out and paid tribute shows you the mark of the man and how well he was thought of in British sport.”

Prime Minister David Cameron also paid tribute. On a visit to Manchester yesterday, he said: “Obviously here in the North, where he played for so many of the iconic teams, I know he meant an enormous amount to people and people feel very, very sad on his behalf and on his family’s behalf.”