Barker was working as a coach at Forest GreenTributes paid to ‘an absolute gentleman’The former Cardiff and Barnsley defender Chris Barker has died at the age of 39.
![Chris Barker, former Cardiff and Barnsley defender, dies aged 39](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b04687449392444d2431f4db2398f046673589f8/48_177_1899_1139/master/1899.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=e3c3ef7db28065978d89ee9e13a818be)
Barker, who was lead professional development phase coach at Forest Green, made 180 appearances for Cardiff during a five-year spell after joining from Barnsley in 2002. He also had spells at Stoke, Colchester, QPR, Plymouth, Southend and Aldershot.