World Cup - Police announce Speed inquest - Yahoo! Eurosport
Cheshire Police have confirmed that an inquest into Gary Speed's untimely death will be opened on Tuesday.
Wales manager Speed was found hanged in his Cheshire home on Sunday morning, with police saying his death was not suspicious. He was 42. The inquest, a formality in suspected suicide cases, will take at Warrington Coroner's Court on Tuesday at 3pm. The family of Gary Speed said they were "overwhelmed by the support" they had received following the Wales manager's death on Sunday.
Speed's agent Hayden Evans - who was also the best man at Speed's wedding - on Monday afternoon spoke outside the family home in Cheshire. Tributes have poured in for the former Wales, Leeds, Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United midfielder from across the sporting and political world, and 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." He added: "We have been overwhelmed by the support and it really has helped. We would ask that the family are now given the respect of some privacy to just grieve on their own."
Everton will pay tribute to former captain Speed at next week's home match against Stoke. Before kick-off supporters will be invited to take part in a minute's applause along with some of Speed's former Everton team-mates, including David Unsworth, Graham Stuart and Craig Short.Scarves, flowers, flags and shirts have already been left at the Park End in memory of the former club captain.
"The gates will remain closed until further notice so that supporters can continue to visit Goodison Park to pay their respects and leave their own personal tribute," said a statement from the club. Everton will also open official books of condolence at 9am on Tuesday at Everton One, Everton Two, on the club's website and at the Everton Experience in the Metquarter in Liverpool.
Meanwhile, the Welsh FA has opened a book of condolence after being inundated with messages of support following the death of their team’s manager. Fans will be able to go to the FAW headquarters in Cardiff to leave their tributes.
FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said that the organisation had received messages from UEFA and FIFA, with the Welsh flag at FIFA House flying at half mast.
A visibly emotional Ford said: "We have had hundreds of messages, my phone hasn't stopped with messages from everyone involved or not involved. It has touched everybody.
"We have had messages from family, friends have called, professional people have called, and they have all been heartfelt messages from people who may only have met Gary a couple of times, which showed the mark of the man.
"He was such a great person and he is such a loss.
"We have a book of condolence available at FAW headquarters and there is an area set aside for fans to leave flowers. Our door is open and we are trying to do everything we can at this terrible, terrible time.
"We have received letters from UEFA and FIFA and our letter from Sepp Blatter this morning said that the Welsh flag is flying at half mast at FIFA House."
-Eurosport / PA Sport
Cheshire Police have confirmed that an inquest into Gary Speed's untimely death will be opened on Tuesday.
Wales manager Speed was found hanged in his Cheshire home on Sunday morning, with police saying his death was not suspicious. He was 42. The inquest, a formality in suspected suicide cases, will take at Warrington Coroner's Court on Tuesday at 3pm. The family of Gary Speed said they were "overwhelmed by the support" they had received following the Wales manager's death on Sunday.
Speed's agent Hayden Evans - who was also the best man at Speed's wedding - on Monday afternoon spoke outside the family home in Cheshire. Tributes have poured in for the former Wales, Leeds, Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United midfielder from across the sporting and political world, and 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." He added: "We have been overwhelmed by the support and it really has helped. We would ask that the family are now given the respect of some privacy to just grieve on their own."
Everton will pay tribute to former captain Speed at next week's home match against Stoke. Before kick-off supporters will be invited to take part in a minute's applause along with some of Speed's former Everton team-mates, including David Unsworth, Graham Stuart and Craig Short.Scarves, flowers, flags and shirts have already been left at the Park End in memory of the former club captain.
"The gates will remain closed until further notice so that supporters can continue to visit Goodison Park to pay their respects and leave their own personal tribute," said a statement from the club. Everton will also open official books of condolence at 9am on Tuesday at Everton One, Everton Two, on the club's website and at the Everton Experience in the Metquarter in Liverpool.
Meanwhile, the Welsh FA has opened a book of condolence after being inundated with messages of support following the death of their team’s manager. Fans will be able to go to the FAW headquarters in Cardiff to leave their tributes.
FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said that the organisation had received messages from UEFA and FIFA, with the Welsh flag at FIFA House flying at half mast.
A visibly emotional Ford said: "We have had hundreds of messages, my phone hasn't stopped with messages from everyone involved or not involved. It has touched everybody.
"We have had messages from family, friends have called, professional people have called, and they have all been heartfelt messages from people who may only have met Gary a couple of times, which showed the mark of the man.
"He was such a great person and he is such a loss.
"We have a book of condolence available at FAW headquarters and there is an area set aside for fans to leave flowers. Our door is open and we are trying to do everything we can at this terrible, terrible time.
"We have received letters from UEFA and FIFA and our letter from Sepp Blatter this morning said that the Welsh flag is flying at half mast at FIFA House."
-Eurosport / PA Sport