Tributes pour in for Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander, who has died aged 53

Bystaff and agencies Published: 3:58PM GMT 03 March 2010

Passed away: Keith Alexander not long ago took time off due to seizure Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Alexander, who suffered a brain aneurysm in Nov 2003, upheld afar after nearing home from Tuesday night"s 1-0 League Two better at Notts County.

In a matter on the LMA"s central website, Bevan said: "Our thoughts are with Keith"s family at this really formidable time. This will have been a awful shock to his mother Helen, their dual young kids Jack and Jenny and his dual alternative sons Paul and Matt.

Keith Alexander"s family to confirm on Macclesfield diversion

"He will be sorely longed for by the LMA, the members and the total of the football community. Keith was an active part of of the LMA and the projects with The Prince"s Trust in particular, and his grant to the contentment of the diversion is at large acknowledged.

"He was a hold up of polite rights and equivalence issues and was additionally active in the Black Coaches Association."

Along with MK Dons physical education instructor Paul Ince, Alexander was one of usually dual black managers operative in English government via the 92 clubs.

The Nottingham-born physical education instructor not long ago distinguished dual years in assign of the Silkmen and their authority Mike Rance said: "We"re all positively devastated.

"I spoke to Keith last night at about 11.15pm after the diversion at Notts County and he was in great intoxicating beverage because, nonetheless we lost, we had since a group chasing graduation a great game.

"We were chatting about an FA conference after he had a row with a arbitrate at Bournemouth, that usually shows how ardent he was about the game.

"It was maybe wise that the last review we had was about football."

The expect means of Alexander"s genocide stays unclear, but Rance said: "He went home after the diversion last night and collapsed. Tragically, he never recovered."

Alexander had built a repute in the reduce leagues for operative effectively inside of a parsimonious bill and Rance added: "Keith was the undiluted physical education instructor for a bar similar to ours.

"He was all useful about handling in League Two and the constraints involved.

"He was a glorious man, a genuine lady and an comprehensive payoff to work with."

Macclesfield are scheduled to fool around Hereford at Edgar Street on Saturday but the compare could be postponed.

Rance has already oral to Hereford authority Graham Turner and explained: "Graham additionally knew Keith really well and the preference as to either Saturday"s diversion goes forward will be taken by Keith"s family shortly.

"I know what Keith would have wanted, but it will be his family"s decision."

Assistant physical education instructor Gary Simpson told Sky Sports News: "He was a incomparable than hold up impression - an honest man, a glorious man and he will be longed for by people in all walks of life. He was an positively glorious human being.

"He was regularly there and together we usually got on with stuff. In the formidable times we"ve had, we"ve helped each alternative by things and he was usually a rock."

Football League authority Lord Mawhinney said: "I am repelled and deeply saddened by the genocide of Keith Alexander. The thoughts of the Football League, the clubs and football supporters everywhere will be with Keith"s family and friends.

"He was a tough, stubborn aspirant as a player and as a physical education instructor and will be severely missed."

The majority important spells of Alexander"s personification career were at Grimsby and Stockport, whilst he additionally had a army with Lincoln, where he became physical education instructor for the initial time in 1993, creation him the initial black veteran football physical education instructor in the UK.

His stay lasted less than a year but, after spells with Ilkeston and Northwich, Alexander returned as executive of football and partner physical education instructor prior to in the future replacing Alan Buckley at the helm and apropos a fans" favourite.

In Nov 2003 Alexander suffered a intelligent aneurysm and was taken to sanatorium for critical surgery prior to returning to work in Feb 2004.

He left Lincoln by mutual agree in the 2005/2006 deteriorate and had a spell in assign of Peterborough prior to receiving the on all sides of executive of football at Bury.

He took assign of Macclesfield in Feb 2008, but his health not long ago took a spin for the worse when he was forced to miss the goalless pull with Accrington last month due to illness.

Alexander helped Lincoln to the play-offs for 4 uninterrupted seasons in between 2002-06 - the usually physical education instructor to grasp that feat.

Imps authority Steff Wright said: "Over and on top of being the comprehensive veteran in all he did, Keith was one of the nicest guys you could ever instruct to meet.

"It goes but observant that the thoughts are with Helen and the family at this intensely formidable time."

A Bury orator said: "Keith Alexander was one of the majority genuine people you could work with, to know and to have the instruct to meet.

"There are a lot of complicated hearts around Gigg Lane this afternoon and as a club, we instruct to pass the condolences to Keith"s evident family, his friends and all supporters, players and officials at Macclesfield Town."