The Professional Footballers' Association has issued a statement on behalf of former Walsall coach, Marcus Stewart.
The statement, released via their official website, confirms that, following twelve months of testing, former Bristol Rovers forward Marcus Stewart has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Marcus’ playing career spanned 20 years. He amassed over 650 appearances at eight different clubs, including Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town, Sunderland, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Exeter City, scoring over 250 goals.
The Bristol-born striker also played at every tier of English professional football, including scoring 19 goals for Ipswich Town in the Premier League, helping the Tractor Boys secure fifth place in 2000-2001 and qualify for the UEFA Cup.
Since retirement, he has moved into coaching and management, working at Exeter City, Bristol Rovers and Walsall. Marcus is currently Head of Player Development at Yeovil Town.
Marcus said; "I would like to take the opportunity to thank those closest to me for their unwavering support since my recent diagnosis.
"As I take the time to adjust, my intention is to continue to enjoy my work in football and spend time with my family.
"In the future, I would like to use my platform within football to help raise awareness around MND, but in the short-term, I would like to ask for privacy on behalf of myself and my family."