Alan Pardew: Cyrille Regis was a legend of the game

The Albion head coach has added his own thoughts to the mountains of kind words about the Baggies legend, who died in the early hours of Monday morning from a suspected heart attack.

Regis, who was a regular attendee at The Hawthorns, was 59.

“I imagine my reaction when I heard was the same as everyone’s – I just couldn’t believe it,” said Pardew.

“My thoughts and sincerest condolences go to his family. For someone of my generation, Cyrille was Albion and he remained an absolute legend in the game.

“I hope he saw The Hawthorns on Saturday as he would have liked to remember it, with the stadium rocking and the team and fans as one.

“That was what Cyrille was all about and this club and its supporters will certainly miss him.”

Regis played for Albion, Coventry, Wolves and Villa and following his retirement, he became an agent with Stellar Group.

Stellar is one of the biggest football agencies in the country and looks after hundreds of players including high profile ones like Gareth Bale and Joe Hart.

Bale paid tribute to Regis, saying: “Helped me a lot when I was young and was a great man.”

Stellar Group chairman Jonathan Barnett said: “Cyrille was a wonderful person to work with and his death has left everyone in the company and the players he represented with a great sense of sadness.

“Our deepest condolences go out to Julia and all of Cyrille’s family and close friends.

“Cyrille was a pioneer in British football and hugely respected by everyone in the game. He was a role model to his young clients and a genuinely lovely man.”