Gary Ablett battling blood cancer

Former Birmingham defender Gary Ablett is battling blood cancer.

The 44-year-old, who managed Stockport last season before being sacked, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Ablett was taken ill last week, soon after agreeing a one-year coaching contract with Ipswich.

He had been due to sit alongside manager Roy Keane on the Portman Road bench for the first time in Saturday's friendly with West Ham.

A sombre Keane, who recruited Ablett after getting to know him on a coaching course, said after the game: "Gary was taken ill at the training ground and taken to hospital.

"He is getting the best of treatment."

It is expected Ablett, who made more than 100 appearances for Blues, will be moved from Suffolk to his native Merseyside this week where intensive ­treatment will continue.

The defender spent nine years at Liverpool from 1983 - where he won two league titles - before joining Everton.

Ablett went on to finish his playing career at Birmingham between 1996-99, before spells at Blackpool and Wycombe.