Ipswich coach and former Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. The 44 year old was in charge of Stockport as they were relegated to npower League Two last season but recently took up a coaching role at Ipswich under Roy Keane and is currently in hospital in Suffolk.

An Everton statement on their official website said: "Gary has always been a popular figure at Goodison, where he has forged a host of friendships through his time here as a player and a coach.

"An FA Cup winner as part of Joe Royle's famous Everton side in 1995, he returned to Goodison in 2002 as a senior coach within the Blues' Academy. He departed Goodison in 2006 to take up a position as reserve team boss for Liverpool but has maintained strong friendships on the blue half of the city.

"Our thoughts are with Gary and his family at this time."