Alan Shearer left numb by close pal Speed's death

Former England captain Alan Shearer admitted to the BBC on Monday he was numb and in shock following the death on Sunday of Wales manager Gary Speed.

Shearer, who played with Speed at Newcastle United, was close friends with the former Welsh international midfielder, who was found hanged in his garage early on Sunday.

Shearer revealed that after both had appeared on the BBC's Football Focus on Saturday they had discussed their summer holidays in Portugal next year.

"I was with him and he was happy and joking and we were having a normal mickey-take like we do out of each other," said Shearer.

"We were having a laugh and a joke about our golf trips and holidays that we went on together last year, and planning our next holiday in Portugal next summer with our families and kids."

Shearer added that they were due to see each other as early as this Friday.

"We were arranging next weekend. He was coming up to stay at my house with his wife and we were going up to various charity dinners on Friday and Saturday.

"We left the studio at half past two and I walked over to Old Trafford to go and watch Newcastle. I shook his hand and said, 'see you next weekend' - and unfortunately I won't.

"It's incredible. I'm still numb and still shocked like everyone else. You read things in the newspaper and it doesn't happen to one of your best mates. I'm just so sad and shocked and feel for (Speed's wife) Louise and his two boys and mum and dad."

Shearer - who at Newcastle regularly played golf with Speed, Shay Given and Steve Harper - said that Speed was one of those rare breeds in competitive sport who had no enemies.

"You're bound to have arguments along the way in football, but no one ever did with Gary - no one had a bad word for him.

"He was an incredible guy who you could rely and depend on. Everyone loved him... he was loved because that's the type of guy that he was - he got on with everyone and everyone respected him."