Former Town coach Gary Ablett has revealed that ex-Blues boss Roy Keane brought the entire squad and staff to see him in hospital after last season’s opening day 3-1 win at Middlesbrough. A few days earlier Ablett had been diagnosed with non-hodgkin lymphoma.
Ablett, who talks about his fight against the illness in the Daily Mail today, said: "Ipswich had been away to Middlesbrough, I had just watched the goals on The Football League Show when I looked up and saw Roy Keane's face pressed up against the window. He asked to come in and said he had brought some of the staff with him.
"Every player and member of staff who had been to Middlesbrough traipsed in and filled up my tiny room. I had a laugh with them when really I just wanted to burst into tears because Roy had brought them all in.
"Roy has been phenomenal with visiting me and it has just been so good to know these people have taken the time to ring you up or check on you - really good friends.”
Former Liverpool and Everton defender Ablett had only joined Keane’s staff a matter of weeks prior to being taken ill.