A West Midlands Police spokesman said relatives of the 55-year-old victim had now been informed.

Mr Reeves, from Northfield, Birmingham, died from head injuries on Saturday after he was apparently crushed against a fence by the reversing coach at Coventry's Highfield Road stadium.

Police have begun an investigation.

Arsenal sympathy

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his team had been upset during the game although at that stage they did not know he had died from his injuries.

Arsenal won 1-0 and he said: "It was a good result, but the accident was very sad for us.

"We would like to send our condolences to the man's family because what happened is terrible.

"The players knew about the accident and we did not have our hearts in the game while we were in the dressing room.

"We knew he was seriously injured and did not know that he had died. We found out after the game."

'Club is hurting'

At a news conference after the match, Mr Wenger described the moment the coach collided with the security man.

"We were sitting in the coach which was going backwards and the coach then suddenly stopped."

Gordon Strachan: Club will do everything possible for family

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan said: "The whole club is hurting just now, everybody at the club is hurting.

"We'll be there for his family and anything they need."

French journalist Sylvie Cozzolino saw what happened and said: "We heard a big noise.

Sylvie Cozzolini: "We realised it was the man"

"We didn't know what it was but everybody thought it might be the bus hitting the gates."

Superintendent Bob Minshull confirmed the Arsenal players were on the coach when the tragedy happened.

He said: "The full circumstances are still being investigated, but it appears the coach was reversing into the main entrance when it came into contact with the full-time member of security staff."