Depression alert after Gary Speed’s suicide

“But over ten players have contacted me since that news broke. That means ten people are seeking help. That is an unusual amount. If that can be deemed something worthwhile coming out from such a tragedy then so be it.

“When people are voicing the fact they’ve considered taking their own life, you have to understand that is one stage before the situation Gary got to.”

Funding for the clinic, set up by former Arsenal and England talisman Tony Adams, comes partly from the Professional Footballers’ Association. Its chief executive Gordon Taylor yesterday said players with mental health issues needed to find the “courage to ask for help”.

As the footballing nation continued to mourn Speed’s demise, concerns have been raised surrounding the Werther Effect, where talk of suicide leads to a lemming-like rush to the clifftop. The argument is this: If Gary Speed — great footballer, successful manager, rolling in money, still in good shape, handsome, lovely family, respected by all — can’t soldier on, how can anybody?

• Follow SportsCentral on Twitter