ALAN Pardew claimed yesterday was “one of the saddest days in football” after former Newcastle United midfielder Gary Speed died at the age of 42.

Speed, who made almost 300 appearances for Newcastle under Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson, was pronounced dead at his home in Chester in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The Wales manager was an extremely popular figure on Tyneside, and Newcastle are expected to stage a formal tribute when they hold their next home game against Chelsea on December 3.

“This is one of the saddest days in football, when we hear a colleague as respected as Gary is tragically no longer with us,” said Pardew. “A top-class international player whose seamless move into national team management tells us everything you need to know about him.

“He had great class on and off the pitch, he was a man of true character that so many people looked up to. It is so sad and tonight my thoughts are of course with his family.”

Of the current Newcastle squad, Steve Harper, Steven Taylor and Shola Ameobi all played with Speed, who spent a total of six seasons at St James' Park.

The trio all paid tribute to their former team-mate yesterday, remembering Speed as a commensurate professional who revelled in his role as club captain.

“Gary was a really great guy who joined the club the year before I made my debut,” said Ameobi. “I looked up to the likes of Gary and Alan Shearer, and he was always there for me and the rest of the young lads, taking time to talk to us at training and pass on little tips that helped you improve as a player.

“Not everyone would do that so it just goes to show what a class act he was. He taught me so much, not just on the field, but how to handle yourself off the pitch too. I wish his family all the very best at this terribly sad time.”

A number of ex-Newcastle players also expressed their shock at yesterday's events, which came as a complete surprise to even Speed's closest friends.

Alan Shearer had spent a large part of Saturday with Speed, who was a guest pundit on the BBC's Football Focus lunchtime show. “I am proud to have been his friend and will miss him dreadfully,” said Shearer.

Robert Lee described Speed as “a great friend and a great footballer”, while Robbie Elliott, who is now working as a coach in America, tweeted “just woken in States to the news. In total shock. Top pro, top man. RIP Speedo”.

Like Shearer, Robbie Savage was in contact with Speed on Saturday. The former Wales international, who is currently a contestant on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show, was forced to fight back tears as he remembered his close friend.

“I idolised him, he was one of my heroes in life,” said Savage. “He's been there for me, someone I spoke to every week. Everybody loved Gary Speed. Why has this happened?

“When I was a young kid going into the Wales squad he took me under his wing. He helped me so, so much and then, just three weeks ago, he was in the Strictly crowd in the front row supporting me.

“When a lot of people finish football, they really don't want to know you, but he was there for me all the way through.”

The exact details of Speed's death are still to be confirmed, but it has been widely reported that he was found hanged.

The German goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide in 2009, and former striker Stan Collymore tweeted extensively at the end of last week to reveal details of his own recent battles against depression.

The subject of depression and mental anxiety remains somewhat taboo within top-level sport, and the mental health charity, Mind, have expressed concern that leading sportsmen and women are afraid to seek the help they require.

“The apparent suicide of Gary Speed is a tragic and shocking event,” said Mind chief executive Paul Farmer. “Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time.

“The high-pressure environment of top-level sport can cause huge levels of stress and, just because someone appears to be able to carry on their usual daily life, it does not mean that they are not struggling in private.

“Gary Speed is not the first footballer to experience mental distress and nor, sadly, will he be the last. The suicide of German goalkeeper Robert Enke in 2009 shows that sportsmen, like anyone else, are not immune from the devastating effects of mental health problems.”