Ray Wilkins has revealed that he has the same bowel condition as Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, in a bid to dispel rumours of a drinking problem.

The 57-year-old, who was sacked as assistant manager by Fulham this week, was rumoured to have been under the influence of alcohol during the Cottagers' 3-2 defeat to Liverpool last Wednesday.

However, Wilkins, who was handed a three-year road ban after he was convicted of drunk-driving, has spoken out by claiming that he has chronic disease ulcerative colitis.

"I need to control the ulcerative colitis with strict medication, which I had not done before the Liverpool game," Wilkins told the Daily Mail. "That is the reason I didn't return to the dug-out after half-time as I needed to be close to a toilet.

"Unfortunately I can look the worse for wear but it is nothing to do with drink. I didn't want to make a fuss about my illness, I didn't tell Rene [Meulensteen].

"Darren Fletcher said how hard it was to tell his teammates, but I desperately want to carry on in football and there's no chance of that happening if everyone gets the wrong impression that I have a drink problem."

Wilkins has been suffering from the medical condition since 1990.