Former Wolves and Aston Villa footballer Paul Birch is seriously ill in hospital suffering from bone cancer, it emerged this afternoon.
The West Bromwich-born ex-midfielder, aged 45, has undergone radiation treatment and started chemotherapy today.
His old team-mates from both Wolves and Villa have visited him in hospital.
In a statement Wolves said: “Paul was a very popular guy here and the news came as a big shock to us all.
“Our thoughts are with Paul and his family at this time and we wish him all the best.”
At Wolves Birch played alongside Geoff Thomas, who successfully fought leukaemia.
Neil Rioch, chairman of the Villa Former Players’ Association, said: “He is like he played – a very gutsy character who always gives 100 per cent and everyone is behind him in his efforts to beat it.”
Birch, who is separated from his wife and has a 10-year-old daughter, made more than 200 appearances for Villa between 1980 and 1991 before being signed by his former Villa boss Graham Turner for Wolves for £400,000 in January 1991.
The midfielder played 142 times for Wolves, netting 14 goals, and left Molineux in 1996.
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