Man Utd coach Mark Dempsey to fly home from Australia pre-season tour after hospital scare

MANCHESTER UNITED coach Mark Dempsey will fly home from the club’s pre-season tour of Australia following his hospital scare.

Former player Dempsey, 55, a well-respected member of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s staff, fell ill at the team hotel yesterday.

He was taken by ambulance from Perth’s five-star Crown Towers, chaperoned by security and reportedly with a sheet covering his face as he was wheeled into the hospital.

Dempsey was later said to be suffering from dehydration but was in a stable condition.

Boss Solskjaer, speaking after United’s 2-0 win over Perth Glory, confirmed: “Mark has been assessed and he’s been discharged.

“I’ve been to see him and we agreed it’s best if he goes home and we’ll see him when we get back.”

Dempsey’s wife Susan – mother to their 11-year-old daughter – said her husband collapsed with exhaustion and sleep deprivation due to the intensity of the training and the time difference.

United added in a statement: “Due to the intensity of the Tour schedule we have decided together it’s best for him to return home.”

Manchester-born Dempsey played twice for United in the 1980s before spending the rest of his playing career at other clubs including Sheffield United.

He was later a Red Devils youth coach and managed Scandinavian sides before returning as part of Norwegian Solskjaer’s set-up last year.