Police looking for a Scottish teenage footballer who disappeared while out with friends in Manchester celebrating the New Year have found his body.

Officers had appealed for information at 1.45pm on New Year's Day on the whereabouts of Kyle Doherty, 19, who went missing while with friends at Suede nightclub on Longworth Street, in Manchester city centre.

At about 10pm yesterday the body of a young man was found on Longworth Street, in a courtyard beside the club building.

It is understood that police now believe he fell from the nightclub roof into a small gap or shaft between two walls.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said next of kin have yet to formally identify the body but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Kyle, a youth team player with Stenhousemuir FC who previously played for Stranraer,  was part of a group of nine friends who were visiting Manchester from Scotland for New Year.

He was reported missing at around 1.45pm, police said. When last seen at 12.30am on January 1 he was wearing a blue single-breasted suit with a white shirt and tie.

Bill Darroch, chairman of Stenhousemuir, said in a statement: "I am extremely saddened to have to report that one of our Under 20s team players, Kyle Doherty, has been found dead following a night out in Manchester.

"We are all devastated by this news and our immediate thoughts are with Kyle's family and friends at this sad and difficult time. 

"Kyle was a talented footballer and had been a part of Stenhousemuir Football Club since signing for us in July 2013.  He had become a regular in our Under-20s Team and was starting to break through in to the First Team squad.  He was liked and valued by his team mates and coaches alike.  He will be missed by all who knew him.

"The entire club is in shock at this most terrible of news and we offer our deepest condolences to Kyle's family and friends."

Tributes were also paid on Twitter. Former Dundee United and Scotland full-back Andrew Robertson, now with Hull City, tweeted: "Very sad news about Kyle Doherty! Thoughts go out to all his family and friends and everyone involved at Stenhousemuir!"

Allan Todd posted: "Very sad news about young Kyle Doherty. Thoughts & prayers with family, friends & team mates at @StenhousemuirFC."

Boness United Fans added: "Sad news this morning. Thoughts and prayers with family, friends of young Kyle Doherty and all @StenhousemuirFC R.I.P :( "

On its website, the nightclub says: "Suede is the number one venue in Manchester for the biggest & best events in the city, ensuring an enjoyable & unique clubbing experience for customers...attracting party people from all over the UK and providing the perfect clubbing experience.

"The club has many regular famous faces including Premiership footballers, Coronation Street stars, Geordie Shore, Big Brother & more. We host a wide variety of exciting events, from the coolest Saturday night parties, to student blowouts, K-Pop nights, Afrobeat parties and VIP events & concerts for some of the biggest RnB stars, from R Kelly to Trey Songz and house nights with top DJ's such as Amine Adge & Jesse Perez."