Carlisle United 'shocked and saddened' by death of David Wilkes

The Blues tonight said Mr Wilkes had passed away suddenly aged 59.

United said they were "deeply saddened and shocked" at the news.

They described Mr Wilkes, who had been on the staff at United since the early 1990s, as a "close and dear friend" to everyone who worked with him.

The circumstances of Mr Wilkes' death have not yet been given.

Carlisle are also pausing their social media and official media channels over the weekend as a mark of respect.

They are making no further comment at this stage out of "respect to Mr Wilkes, his family and loved ones."

"Our thoughts are with Dave’s loved ones at this extremely sad time," United added in a statement.

The news will come as a shock to the many people who knew Mr Wilkes through his decades of work at Brunton Park.

Mr Wilkes, front, brought through a host of talented young players at Carlisle including future Premier League stars like Rory Delap, third left

He was at the heart of the youth system that brought through a host of famous home-grown players at the club in the 1990s.

And he has been heavily involved in the development of young talent at the club for most of the years since then.

A former player, he joind Carlisle in the early 1990s from Barnsley before becoming United's youth development officer.

He worked under promotion-winning managers Mick Wadsworth and Mervyn Day and later had a spell as joint manager with John Halpin and Michael Knighton.

He was part of the management team under Nigel Pearson that was at the helm when Jimmy Glass' famous goal saved Carlisle from relegation in 1999.

After spells with Newcastle United, Huddersfield Town and Gretna, he returned to Carlisle in 2005 to head their centre of excellence.

He was part of the youth set-up that led United's under-18s to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals in 2005/6, and remained at the club from that time, most recently holding the role of head of academy coaching.