Town boss Paul Jewell says he never heard anyone in football say a bad word about Wales manager Gary Speed, whose death at 42 was announced yesterday. The Blues manager got to know the ex-Leeds, Newcastle and Everton man while they worked for their coaching badges.
A visibly low Jewell said: "I’m in complete shock really. We found out yesterday after training. We came off the training pitch feeling a bit sorry for ourselves because we’re on a bit of a bad run, and then we heard the tragic news of what’s happened. I can’t take it in, to be honest.
"I came out of the shower, most of the lads had gone, and I saw it on the TV and was just standing there dumbfounded, I really couldn’t believe it.
"I’m sure the players will be upset and shell-shocked, like everybody is in football. It’s such a tragic loss.
"I can really say anything, all my words are empty anyway. At the end of the day you can’t imagine what his family are going through and I’d never want to be in that situation.”
The Blues boss says he got to know Speed relatively recently: "I’ve only got to know Gary over the last five or six years when we were doing our badges.
"When someone passes away, everyone says nice things about them but genuinely, and I’ve been in the game since Ieft school, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say a bad word about Gary Speed, and vice versa, I’ve never heard him say a bad word about anybody.
"It can be a nasty, jealous game at times. People are quite happy when other people aren’t doing well, it’s a bit bitchy, but Speedy was always positive and was a terrific guy. I’m just in shock and our thoughts go out to his wife, children and all his family.
"We’re footballers and football managers but we’re people as well. It just puts it into perspective. We’re having a tough time at the moment but nothing compared to what his family are going through.”
Jewell says he talked to the one-time midfielder only a few days ago: "I spoke to him only last week and he recommended me a couple of players. He asked me if any of our young lads had Welsh connections and was telling me how much he loved his job.
"I just feel for his family now. He was a guy who, when you looked from the outside had everything, but obviously something was wrong.”
Jewell feels the news brought his own current woes into perspective: "When things like that happen, it makes you realise that life is to be lived and to be enjoyed.
"We’ve lost five football matches on the trot. Someone asked me on Saturday if that was that heart-breaking and I said it was. Now I think about it ,it’s not heart-breaking, it’s disappointing. Heart-breaking is when something like has happened to Gary Speed happens.”
A number of the Town squad have had connections with Speed throughout their careers and they paid their tributes via the club website, including striker Michael Chopra, who played alongside him at Newcastle: "He was a brilliant professional and when I was at Newcastle he would always be available to help you out and offer you some advice if you needed it. You remember the little things and I knew that if I ever needed to speak to someone, Gary was always there for you.
"It was a really sad day to find out what had happened to him. He had a bright future as a manager and my condolences go out to all his family and friends. "
Defender Danny Collins played for Speed for Wales: "He was a great bloke and it’s come as a massive shock to everyone. I spoke to a few of the boys in the Welsh camp yesterday and I just couldn't believe it when I heard the news.
"He was a great professional both on and off the pitch and looked after himself really well. He was making great strides with the Welsh side and everything now was much more organised and done in a professional manner and he had us going in the right direction. I never heard a bad word said about him and I wish his family all the best at this sad time. "
Midfielder Lee Bowyer was another team-mate at Newcastle: "He was such a professional and so many people looked up to him. For the time that I knew him, and I've met up with him since leaving Newcastle, he was always so kind and just a really nice person.
"You couldn't say a bad word against the guy, he was a true gentleman on and off the field and he's definitely going to be missed. I would also like to send my best to all his family at this devastating time.”
Keeper Richard Wright played under Speed at Sheffield United: "I only worked with him briefly from the start of last season until Christmas at Sheffield United. He was a very bubbly character and very positive around the training ground. In my eyes he was an absolute legend, on and off the pitch. He'll be greatly missed in the game and my thoughts are with his family at this time. "
Former Town coach Charlie Woods worked under Sir Bobby Robson at St James’ Park: "I worked at Newcastle with Gary for five years. I got a phone call from Kieron Dyer yesterday and I was absolutely stunned when he told me what happened. He will be a big miss to football because he was an enormous character and a great lad.”
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