Gary Speed has died

[Mj3]

Its a fantastic mark of respect. Theres also Manchester United, Ipswich and a few local Newcastle fans who couldnt get to SJP all laying shirts and flowerd.

[Lineker]

Lady Elsie is said to be 'extremely touched' that Louise Speed has asked for donations in Gary’s memory to go to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

[Lineker]

The funeral of Wales football manager Gary Speed will take place later this week, it has been announced.

Speed, 42, was found dead at his home in Cheshire nine days ago.

The League Managers' Association (LMA) said it will be a private funeral with only family and close friends invited, but a public memorial service will be held soon.

His widow Louise said through the LMA that she and her family expressed "deep appreciation" for the tributes to him.

Football fans and rugby supporters united at the weekend to remember Speed, with a minute's applause at every Premier League fixture and at the Wales-Australia rugby game in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

At Mrs Speed's request, Newcastle United have postponed plans to mark the former player's long connection with the club, where he made 285 appearances. They will pay a full tribute to Speed on 17 December, when they play Welsh rivals Swansea City.

"At this time, Louise Speed and her family wish to express their deep appreciation for the very generous and clearly heartfelt tributes paid to Gary and his memory by the public and all forms of the media," said an LMA statement.

"Mrs Speed is especially grateful for the sympathetic way that the media has respected the family's privacy in these extremely distressing circumstances.

"She is also acutely aware how Gary touched the lives of so many people and that each of them would wish to thank him for the joy he brought to them.

"Accordingly, a memorial service to celebrate Gary's life will take place soon and hopefully this will allow as many people to attend as wish to be there to pay their final respects and tributes to Gary."

Any donations in memory of Gary Speed should be sent either to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation or the John Hartson Foundation.

Speed, born in Mancot, Flintshire, took over the Wales job in December 2010. Last month he said the side's rapid improvement had exceeded all expectations.

He was given the top job in Welsh football despite only having four months managerial experience.

Speed began his playing career at Leeds United after coming through the trainee ranks, and was part of the side that won the last Football League title in 1992, before the introduction of the Premier League.

He was handed his Wales debut as a 20-year-old in the 1-0 friendly win over Costa Rica in May 1990.

He left Leeds in 1996 after 312 appearances to join Everton - who he went on to captain - in a £3.5m move, before playing for Newcastle and Bolton.

He retired from international duty in 2004, having scored seven goals and captaining his country 44 times. His tally of 85 caps is a record for an outfield player.

[Lineker]

FAW intend to have new manager installed by Feb 29th - the scheduled date for the next Wales game (which will also be a tribute to Speed).

[Lineker]

Wales manager Gary Speed's widow has told his inquest his job strained their marriage and they had an "exchange of words" the night before he died.

Louise Speed told the hearing in Warrington she then went for a drive, but could not get back into the house when she returned at about 1.30am.

She spent the night in the car and in the morning found his body in the garage at their home in Huntington, near Chester.

Mrs Speed said he did not leave a note.

He had sent her a text four days before he died in which he "talked in terms of taking his life". But she said she dismissed it because of their children.

The hearing was told by the team's GP that he showed no signs of stress and depression.

The evidence was given by Dr Mark Ridgewell on Speed, 42, who played for a number of Premier League clubs.

His friend, the former England captain Alan Shearer, who was with him the day before he was found dead, said he had become aware there were issues between Speed and his wife.

Shearer, whose family went on holiday with the Speeds, said he told him that that was normal in a long-standing relationship.

Shearer last saw him at lunchtime on the Saturday before he died, when Speed appeared on the BBC's Football Focus programme. He said Speed seemed fine and was laughing and joking.

He got the call with the news of his death the next day. "It just didn't and still doesn't make sense to me," said Shearer's statement.

Dr Bob Muggleton, the medical officer at Sheffield United - the club Speed managed before taking on the Wales job - told the inquest in Warrington that he had worked with him until 2010 and no mental health issues were raised during that time.

The inquest was told about a dinner party hosted by a friend of Speed the night before he died, when he was in good spirits.

Speed had been pushed in the pool with his clothes on, along with other men, and he had tried to push everyone else in scenes of good fun.

He had also been talking of booking a Christmas holiday to Dubai.

Robert Bateman, the taxi driver who took the Speeds home, said everything had seemed normal and they were "as normal as they always are".

In a statement, Speed's mother Carol said her son had said that there was "no greater honour than to manage his country in the game he loved".

She described him as a "half-empty person" and "certainly no optimist". The phone call from her daughter-in-law was the "worst moment of my life".

Mrs Speed arrived at the inquest in Warrington shortly before it began with a number of family and friends.

The League Managers' Association is expected to release a statement on her behalf after the hearing.

After news emerged of his death, tributes were paid to Speed from around the UK and the sporting world.

Football matches around the country held minute's silences and applause, while fans of his former clubs, including Leeds United, Everton and Newcastle United, left scarves, shirts, photos and flags in Speed's memory.

Tributes were also left at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff City Stadium and Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.

The Football Association of Wales announced a memorial international friendly game against Costa Rica in Cardiff, which will be held on 29 February.

He had earned the first of his 85 Welsh caps as a 20-year-old in a friendly against the Central American country in 1990.

The former Premier League star, who had two sons, went on to become Wales' most capped outfield player, captaining his country 44 times and scoring seven goals.

Before becoming Wales boss in December 2010, he enjoyed a distinguished career managing Sheffield United and playing for a variety of top clubs.

Earlier this month Speed's friend and former Wales teammate Chris Coleman was unveiled as the new Wales manager.

Figured that we could bump this back up the board with the inquiry taking place today. @bbcwales are covering things as they happen.

[MJB]

I think we all thought something was going on at home. Still such a sad story

[Lineker]

His wife Louise told the hearing in Warrington she then went for a drive, but could not get back into the house.

She spent the night in the car and in the morning found his body hanging in the garage at their home near Chester.

Ugh, poor woman.

[Lineker]

The inquest has recorded a narrative verdict. The coroner ruled the COD as hanging but declared that there was insufficient evidence to declare whether it was accidental or intentional.

[Starvinho]

His wife Louise told the hearing in Warrington she then went for a drive, but could not get back into the house.

She spent the night in the car and in the morning found his body hanging in the garage at their home near Chester.

Ugh, poor woman.

I know this must have been horrific for her but I've said it a few times now, I'm glad she found him rather than one of his kids.

[Matt]

Am I the only one concerned about this all being made public? I think we now know it was down to marriage problems and as such I feel it's going to lead to the Speed family being hounded by the press until we find out what the (root of) problems were when really, it is none of anyone's business. No matter what was happening with him and his missus, I doubt Gary would want a media circus following her around because of his death.