Chelsea won't confirm Bosnich sacked

Chelsea have insisted Mark Bosnich’s future at the club remains a "confidential matter" following a report that the Australian goalkeeper has been sacked.

The former Manchester United and Aston Villa star has been undergoing treatment after being diagnosed as suffering from severe clinical depression.

According to The Sun, Chelsea's Trevor Birch has written to Bosnich informing him he would be "suspended without pay until further notice".

However, Birch would only add today: "This is a confidential matter between the club, the player and the Football Association."

Bosnich was once rated as one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League, making his name at Villa before joining United on a lucrative Bosman free transfer in June 1999.

However, his career at Old Trafford, where he once played as a youngster, was blighted by injury and a high-profile bust-up with boss Alex Ferguson followed which eventually saw him become the fourth-choice keeper following the arrival of World Cup winner Fabien Barthez.

Although he was allowed to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer at the start of 2001 and immediately signed for Chelsea, he found his times at Stamford Bridge just as troubled.

After keeping his place in the side following his debut in the 2-0 UEFA Cup first-leg defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel on October 18 last year after several first-team players elected not to travel, he then suffered a torn thigh muscle which allowed Carlo Cudicini to cement his place in boss Claudio Ranieri’s plans.