THE NEWS of the tragic death of Gary Speed has shaken football to the core.

At a time when role models do not spring readily to mind in a sport more associated with angst and greed, here was a man who was without doubt the acceptable face of the game.

It’s hard to think of a more decent human being than Gary. I cannot ever recall a bad word being said about him either as a player, a manager, or more importantly as a thoroughly good bloke.

As Robbie Savage tweeted: “Why? Why? Why?”

Only Gary would have been able to answer that and the hearts of everyone who knew and admired him go out to his devastated family.

You would have thought he had everything to live for. At 42 he seemed to be in his prime. He was in charge of an emerging Welsh side which looks on the brink of better times, perhaps even that elusive World Cup participation.

His young squad of players including precocious talents like Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey worshipped him, and the Savage’s, the Craig Bellamy’s and Ryan Giggs’s of this world acknowledged his influence on the national team of his birth.

Again as Savage said Gary was an underrated player, someone who at one stage had played more Premier League games than anyone else.

I first saw him as a teenager at Leeds. The first thing you noticed was his amazing heading ability, then his knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Howard Wilkinson once predicted Gary would end his playing days as a sweeper in the Franz Beckenbauer mould because of his uncanny ability to read the game.

He was always capable of scoring a goal as over a century in league matches alone testifies.

The clubs who employed Gary Speed were always grateful. Leeds, Everton, Newcastle, Bolton, Sheffield United benefited greatly from his expertise and those who knew him were all the better for the acquaintance.

It’s a long time since I was so stunned by such unwanted news. RIP Gary.