GARY Bowyer says Justin Edinburgh's death puts football into perspective, calling it an absolute tragedy.

The City manager was due to cross paths with his Leyton Orient counterpart in League Two next season before his shocking death at the age of 49 following a cardiac arrest two weeks ago.

The Bantams boss revealed he had a quick chat with Edinburgh a couple of years ago following his Blackpool side's promotion from League Two.

He added Edinburgh will always be held in the highest esteem after guiding the East London side back to the football league after a rapid fall from grace under their previous owners.

Bowyer, 47, said: "It's a very difficult one to talk about, it's such a tragedy.

"All of our thoughts go to his family. It's an absolute tragedy.

"I saw Justin in Majorca a couple of years ago. We'd just been promoted from League Two at Blackpool and we had a quick chat. I knew his assistant, David Kerslake, better.

"It's incredible what he did there at Leyton Orient. He rebuilt them and got them back into the Football League. He was held in the highest regard there.

"It puts football into perspective. The most important thing is your family."

City joined Bowyer in paying tribute to Edinburgh. They tweeted: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin's friends and family - and everyone @leytonorientfc."

Flowers, football shirts and messages of support were left for the former Spurs defender.

Many fans were seen in tears as they stood outside Orient's Breyer Group Stadium, also known as Brisbane Road, where Edinburgh had helped the club secure promotion back to the Football League just weeks earlier.

Bowyer has now joined the football world in remembering former Newport County and Gillingham boss Edinburgh, paying a warm tribute saying he came across him a couple of years ago.

Orient observed a period of mourning following Edinburgh's death, with club offices shut for two days last week.

Meanwhile, Josh Wright left City last Friday to sign for Orient, becoming Edinburgh's 'last signing' at the East London club.

The 29-year-old joined the fellow League Two club on a free transfer after making just 18 appearances in the claret and amber last season. He was made City captain by former boss Michael Collins.

Wright said: "He will always be around for me and many other people involved with the football club and I'm proud of that, to be his last signing that he made.

"I was signing here of course for the club, Leyton Orient, but the icing on the cake was Justin being the manager - that was a big, big thing for me."

Wright added he just wants to make the former Spurs defender proud after they had previously worked together when Edinburgh was Gillingham manager.