Former Leeds, Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United midfielder Speed died at his home on the outskirts of Chester yesterday, with sources confirming he was found hanged. Friends, team-mates and colleagues queued up to pay their respects to Speed in the aftermath and Wales and Tottenham winger Bale was eager to join them. "It was a massive shock, I don't think anybody ever thought anything like this would happen," Bale told Tottenham's official website. "Everyone is devastated and it is a massive loss to everyone in football. "It is a tragedy, everyone still can't get their head around it and all our condolences go out to his family and his kids. It is a hard time." Speed had revitalised Welsh fortunes after taking over last December, overseeing a recent run of four wins in five games that had raised hopes they could launch a genuine bid to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. "We were on the up, he changed the way we play and the whole mentality of our game," Bale said. "It is a massive loss, but we will try and carry on the best we can in his honour." Cheshire Police said on Monday the inquest into Speed's death will be opened at Warrington Coroner's Court on Tuesday at 3pm. Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor suggested there was an appetite within his organisation for a public recognition of the late Wales manager. "He was so popular, so friendly and I never heard a bad word about him," he told Sky Sports News. "A real light has gone out in the football world. "There will be an overwhelming sense that we want do something together to show how loved and regarded he was in the football world."
