Assistant manager Gary Simpson spoke emotionally this morning about the loss of his friend and colleague Keith Alexander.

Simmo first crossed paths with the Big Man during their playing days at Boston United but it was not until Keith took charge at Ilkeston that they forged their close working relationship.

"I played with Keith at Boston but he moved on before I really got to know him," explained Gary. "We'd play against each other over the coming years but it wasn't until he got the manager's job at Lincoln for the first time that we started to talk regularly. I phoned up to congratulate him on his appointment."

"I was at Gainsborough at the time and he caught me a bit off guard when he asked if I'd be interested in joining him. It wasn't possible at the time but I jumped at the chance when he took over at Ilkeston in 1995."

"He's one of the fairest people I have ever met and he would think of nothing to go out of his way to help you whenever he could. He was a good bloke and there is a big gap in all our lives today."

"There was no sign that something like this was going to happen. He was on good form on Tuesday night after the game and we spoke as late as 11.30pm, discussing the possibility of getting a player in to cover for Izak's injury. He was also going to watch John Rooney play for Derby reserves the following day."

"Obviously his previous health problems are well documented and secretly I think his recent hiccoughing experience affecting him. But he was larger than life and just carried on what he loved best, working in football."

"He never changed as a person and he had the respect of so many people. There was one thing however I used to rib him about and that was his taste in wine. He's always had a sweet tooth but after his first illness his choice in wine left a lot to be desired. He'd always go for the sweetest, most sickly one of the menu. Its little things like that I will remember him by. It may seem irrelevant but hopefully in time I'll be able to smile about it."

"I knew something was wrong when the phone rang in the morning. It was his son Matt and I just sensed something had happened. At the time he was still with us but Matt explained it was only a matter of time."

"He's left behind a wonderful family and our thoughts go out to them. I am sure he would have been proud in the way they have coped with such tragic news."