Gary Ablett faces battle with blood cancer

IPSWICH Town coach Gary Ablett has been diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.

The 44-year-old former Liverpool and Everton defender was taken ill last week and has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ablett 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.

A statement on the Everton 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."

Liverpool were also quick to send their best wishes to Ablett, who started his career at Anfield in 1983. A statement on the club website read: "Liverpool have been shocked and saddened to learn that Gary Ablett is facing a battle against cancer. Everyone at the club would like to extend their best wishes to Gary."