Brighton and Hove Albion are to pay tribute to one of their staff who was found dead with her throat slashed.

Marie Harding, 73, who worked in the club's ticket office, was discovered in a lane off Highdown Close, Southwick, on Wednesday.

Players and supporters, many wearing black armbands, will stand in silence at Withdean when Albion play Queen's Park Rangers tomorrow.

The club wants to pay its respects to remember the popular member of the ticketing team at Albion's Queen's Road shop. Mrs Harding was also a dedicated Seagulls fan.

A murder hunt was launched after she was found dead with stab wounds to her throat only yards from the home she shared with husband Jim in Highdown, Southwick.

She is believed to have gone for a walk along the track which provides access to the Downs.

Martin Perry, the club's chief executive, said: "All of us at the club are deeply, deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden nature of her death.

"Marie was a lovely person, she really was, an absolute Albion fan through and through.

"She was very close to her family - they all went everywhere together.

"Marie had been working at the club for years and originally worked at the Goldstone as a turnstile operator, then came into the ticket office in 1997.

"She's been working on and off there since then, as a part-time member of staff, particularly at busy times.

"When major matches were coming up or season ticket applications were coming in, she was there. She just loved working at the club. Many people know her.

"Marie used to go all over the place following the club and, obviously, went to Cardiff for the play-off final.

"She's going to be very, very badly from missed. She was a real friend to the club, as well as an employee, and always had the club's best interests at heart.

"We're intending to mark her death at the game on Saturday. The team will be wearing black armbands and there will be a minute's silence.

"Our thoughts are very much with the family. We will do everything we can to support them at this difficult time."

Close friend and neighbour Margot Ward said: "Jim and their daughter Julie are devastated and I have lost my best friend."

Mrs Harding also worked as a volunteer clerk at Southlands Hospital, Shoreham, preparing menus for patients.

Mr Harding, also 73, worked at the old Shoreham B power station at Southwick before he retired. He has a part-time job working as an assistant at Sainsbury's supermarket at Hangleton, Hove.

Neighbour Clifford Turner said: "Marie liked to come round here for a chat and a cup of tea. She was a lovely person and was completely inoffensive. I can't believe this has happened."

Mrs Harding's handbag and its contents were scattered close to her body. Detectives are investigating whether robbery was the motive.

Relatives and well-wishers left floral tributes close to the scene yesterday. Three bouquets were placed next to a concrete post which stands at the front of the green leading to the spot where her body was found.

A card with them read: "Dear Aunty Marie. You will forever live in our thoughts. God Bless. Chris, Sal and Val."

Lynn Chandler, from Hangleton, said: "My friend has a horse up here and although I did not know the lady we think she used to come up here to feed the horses apples and carrots. I am disgusted something like this could happen to a harmless old lady up here."

Tracey Roser, 42, of Links Road, Portslade, found Mrs Harding's body while walking her dog.

A post-mortem was being carried out last night and Mrs Harding's body was being formally identified by her family.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert, leading the investigation, said: "It is a tragic incident but until we have the post mortem result we do not know how the woman died.

"Our sympathies are with her family.

"We are treating the death as suspicious. A large number of officers are carrying out inquiries in the area and this should offer reassurance to local residents."