There is not enough evidence to say Gary Speed intended to kill himself a coroner said today.

Sitting at Warrington Coroner's Court, Nicholas Rheinberg said in his narrative verdict that he could not be certain Speed meant to take his own life at his family home in Huntington, Cheshire.

The court heard how the former Wales football manager, 42, had rowed with wife Louise on the night of his death in November last year.

She also revealed the dad-of-two had sent her a text message 'which talked in terms of taking his own life' in the days leading up to his death.

Speed, 42, born in Mancot, was a star at Leeds, Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United

Today Mrs Speed told the inquest into his death that she had had a text conversation with Speed, just days before he died.

The inquest heard he had talked in terms of taking his life but that he "dismissed it", saying that he was "excited" about the future with his wife and two sons.

Mrs Speed said the text referred to their "ups and downs" but went on about "how important the boys were" and about "moving forward".

The inquest heard that the couple "had words" on the night before he was found dead after they had been to a dinner party at a friend’s house.

"We walked in the house and we had an exchange of words about something and nothing," Mrs Speed said.

In a statement read out to the court Speed's mum, Carol said: "Receiving the phone call from Louise to say that Gary had died was the worst moment of our lives. It took us by complete shock."

In another statement from Speed's former team-mate at Newcastle United, Alan Shearer said: "I saw Gary on the Saturday when he appeared on Football Focus he was taking the mick out of my disguise becuase I was wearing a scarf and cap so I wouldn't be recognised."

Shearer said he and Gary discussed meeting up the following weekend, "I expected to hear from him on the Monday, and on the Sunday I got the phonecall to say he had died. He seemed fine I just did not and still does not make sense to me," he said