The pair played together at Arsenal and remained close friends.

"Today's result is put into perspective by this tragedy," said the Portsmouth boss.

"I only spoke to David two weeks ago and when I heard the news earlier today I cried my eyes out.

"I played with him at Arsenal as he broke into the side when he was just 17.

"When I left the club in 1988 to play in France, David wrote me a letter thanking me for all that I had done to develop his career and since then we had been close friends.

"It is an awful tragedy that such a nice young man should be struck down in the prime of life."