Ablett diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphona

Ipswich 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.

An Everton statement on their official website, www.evertonfc.com, 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.”

Ipswich are yet to comment but are set to release a statement later this afternoon.