Alan Marriott says he is 'absolutely devastated' by the passing of his former manager Keith Alexander.

Mr Alexander was youth team coach and our assistant manager to Andy King in the mid 1990's, and also played for the first team on a few occasions when the squad was depleted, once scoring twice in a game having come on as a subsitute at the age of 35.  He died late last night aged 53.  His last post was as manager of Macclesfield, whom he managed last night in their 1-0 loss away at Notts County.

He will be fondly remembered here at Field Mill, and of course at Lincoln City, where he steered the club to four consecutive play-offs.

Our goalkeeper Alan Marriott, who played under Keith for over five years at Sincil Bank, lead the tributes from Field Mill.  He told mansfieldtown.net this afternoon.  "I am absolutely devastated.  It is like losing a member of my family.  He was a friend as well as a former manager and somebody who I kept in touch with.

"A lot of cliches are used when people die, but I truly mean this when I say that he was one of the nicest, most genuine and honest of people I have ever met in my life and in football.

"He was there if you needed to talk about a problem.  He talked to you on an equal footing and showed you respect.  He was everything you wanted from a manager and a decent human being.

"He was a gentle person but you wouldn't cross him.  He was quite laid-back but his man -management skills were exceptional.  He showed this when we were at Lincoln, turning an average group of players into promotion contenders. 

"He was quite a character off the pitch and enjoyed a giggle and a laugh.

"i have a million memories of Keith Alexander, but one that comes straight to mind is when we were playing away at Torquay.  The staff and Keith went out for a drink the night before the game and he had nothing to wear but his tracksuit.  He had to borrow a pair of shoes from the waiter in the hotel but still went out with a big smile on his face.  He wasn't bothered by petty or material things.

"He was a fantastic person," added Marriott.