YouTube credit: Stereophononicsonline

STEREOPHONICS FRONTMAN KELLY Jones has recorded a musical tribute to Gary Speed.

The Wales manager was found dead by his wife on Sunday morning, shocking the football world.

Ahead of a weekend of planned tributes for the national team manager, the Welsh band have released a version of Andy Williams’ I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

The video will feature as part of a tribute to Speed on Welsh TV tonight. The song has special resonance with football fans there as it was used in a promo for the 1994 World Cup qualifier in which Wales came so close – and was adopted as an anthem by those on the terraces.

Jones said: “I was with my two daughters at the Millennium Stadium after the Wales v England international [in March].

“We were waiting at the lift and Gary ended his phone conversation and shook my hand. We had a chat about the game and shared the lift to the ground floor. He was a very nice man. Good-looking fella.

“I was consumed the whole day when I heard the news. I couldn’t get my head around it. Then the BBC approached me to record the song. It’s a 10-minute job but I hope it’s fitting for the tribute on the show.”

Tributes

Tomorrow, Speed’s former midfield team-mates at Leeds United – Gary McAllister, David Batty and Gordon Strachan – will lay wreathes at Elland Road before a minute’s applause.

Newcastle United – with whom Speed played for six seasons – have said they will produce a special match programme with a picture of Speed on the cover.

Prior to kick-off at St James’ Park, a singer will lead the 52,000-strong crowd in a rendition of the famous Welsh hymn, Bread of Heaven.