Macclesfield Manager

[heathrow royal]

Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander dies at the age of 53

http://www.mtfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10393~1982833,00.html

[Ferris]

Just seen this on SSN. Any more details?

[heathrow royal]

Not at the moment

[soggy biscuit]

Lost to Notts County Last night. I suspect Lee Hughes was involved somehow.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Jesus.

Remember he had a heart attack a few years back, thought he was ok now. You gotta assume there was some kind of link to that.

Shocking news.

[Zammo]

A real shame. Awful news. RIP.

[Royal With Cheese]

SSN are reporting it was the result of a sex game gone horribly wrong.

[Wycombe Royal]

He has had problems with a cerebral aneurysm going back a few years (he had an op in 2003 and a further precautionary scan a year ago). I would guess this is linked.

[Super_horns]

Sad news.

Knew about the illness but thought he must have been ok having gone back into management.

[Big Foot]

Lost to Notts County Last night. I suspect Lee Hughes was involved somehow.

Agreed

[soggy biscuit]

Too soon to suggest songs Hereford fans could sing at the weekend?

[Big Foot]

Where's your gaffer gone?

[Gloria Gooner]

That's really sad. 53. Bloody hell.

[soggy biscuit]

'He played on the left, he played on the riiiiight, Keith Alexander, keeled over and died'

I'll get my (mourning) coat

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Heartless bastard.

Soggy,not Keith.

[SLAMMED]

Sad news indeed.

[ankeny]

FFS,a decent man has died and all some of you tossers do is take the piss,hope you are proud of yourselves

[Barry the bird boggler]

Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander has died. He was 53.

Alexander, who recently took time off due to illness, passed away after arriving home on Tuesday night from Macclesfield's League Two loss at Notts County.

A statement on Macclesfield's official website said: "It is our sad duty to report that Keith Alexander passed away today after arriving home from Macclesfield Town's game at Notts County last night.

"Keith was a splendid man. He will be sorely missed at the Moss Rose and by everyone involved in football. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this very difficult time."

In 2003, while in charge at Lincoln City, Alexander needed life-saving surgery after being diagnosed with a double cerebral aneurysm. Last year he had another scan during a scare which turned out to be a false alarm and was put down to a bug going round the club.

Alexander said at the time: "Perhaps I shouldn't have come into work that day, but my generation just goes to work, no matter what. You get on with it and don't make excuses."

After temporarily retiring in 1993, Alexander spent a year in charge of Lincoln before resuming his playing career.

Hanging up his boots for good two years later, he had spells in charge of Ilkeston Town and Northwich Victoria, before returning to manage the Imps for a second time in 2001. During his five-year tenure, he took the club to four consecutive promotion play-offs.

After taking the reins at Peterborough United as manager and Bury as director of football, Alexander arrived at Macclesfield in 2008 and helped the club avoid relegation in his first season.

In his playing days, as a striker, Alexander made three international appearances for St Lucia, and recently founded the Sacred Sports Foundation to help increase sporting opportunities for children on the Caribbean island.

League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan also paid tribute to Alexander, highlighting his significant role as the first black manager in the Football League.

Bevan said in a statement: "Our thoughts are with Keith's family at this very difficult time. This will have been a dreadful shock to his wife Helen their two children Jack and Jenny and his two other sons Paul and Matt.

"He will be sorely missed by the LMA, its members and the whole of the football community. Keith was an active member of the LMA and our projects with The Prince's Trust in particular, and his contribution to the well-being of the game is widely acknowledged. Nobody would deny that Keith knew just about all there is to know about managing football clubs on a low budget. He was a champion of civil rights and equality issues and was also active in the Black Coaches Association."

The England senior and U21 teams are to wear black armbands for their matches on Wednesday night as a mark of respect to Alexander.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

RIP Keith Alexander.

[PEARCEY]

He came across as a good, sound bloke. No age to lose your life.

RIP Keith Alexander.