Former Fulham coach Ray Wilkins has announced he is struggling with ulcerative colitis - the same condition afflicting Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher - in order to dispel rumours of a drinking problem.

The 57-year-old's departure from Craven Cottage was made official on Tuesday night, with head coach Rene Meulensteen and technical director Alan Curbishley also making way for new manager Felix Magath and his backroom staff.

Wilkins, who was last year banned from driving for three years after being convicted of drink-driving, remained in the dressing room after half-time in last week's home defeat to Liverpool and admitted he can sometimes look "worse for wear" in the dug-out.

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The former England and Chelsea midfielder insists the chronic bowel condition is to blame.

Wilkins told the Daily Mail: "I need to control the ulcerative colitis with strict medication, which I had not done before the Liverpool game. 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 did have verbals with (Liverpool manager) Brendan Rodgers, but it was nothing.

"I was face to face with (Fulham) chief executive Alistair Mackintosh and the owner Mr (Shahid) Khan straight before the game. And if I had been unable to carry out my duties, they had the right to sack me on the spot.

"I most certainly had not been drinking on the train before the match."

Shape Created with Sketch. Fulham: The latest match pictures Show all 77 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Fulham: The latest match pictures 1/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Chris David scores in style in the last minute to level the match GETTY IMAGES 2/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Hugo Rodallega misses a good chance for the home side GETTY IMAGES 3/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Dwight Gale curls in Palace's second GETTY IMAGES 4/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Cauley Woodrow celebrates after bringing the home side level GETTY IMAGES 5/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Yannick Bolasie congratulates Dwight Gayle on scoring Palace's first goal GETTY IMAGES 6/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Scott Parker walks back to the half way line after Fulham concede another goal and are relegated GETTY IMAGES 7/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Fulham players Steve Sidwell, Darren Bent and Konstantinos Mitroglou look dejected GETTY IMAGES 8/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 John Walters rounds off the scoring for the home side GETTY IMAGES 9/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Marko Arnautovic shoots past David Stockdale and doubles Stoke's lead GETTY IMAGES 10/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Mahamadou Diarra looks on after Fulham go behind GETTY IMAGES 11/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Stoke players celebrate after Peter Odemwingie's opening goal GETTY IMAGES 12/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Steven N'Zonzi skips over the challenge from Scott Parker GETTY IMAGES 13/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Shane Long celebrates after scoring the equaliser for Hull GETTY IMAGES 14/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Nikica Jelavic celebrates and takes the ball back to the half way line after pulling one back for Hull GETTY IMAGES 15/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Fulham team mates mob Fernando Amorebieta after the Venezuelan makes it two for the home side GETTY IMAGES 16/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Ashkan Dejagah opens the scoring for Fulham GETTY IMAGES 17/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Sascha Riether goes down under a tackle from Nikica Jelavic GETTY IMAGES 18/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Scott Parker tackles Shane Long GETTY IMAGES 19/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Younes Kaboul celebrates his goal after putting Spurs 3-1 up GETTY IMAGES 20/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Steve Sidwell and Danny Rose contest for the ball GETTY IMAGES 21/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Hugo Lloris produces a superb save after Hugo Rodallega's header GETTY IMAGES 22/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Harry Kane scores and gives Spurs there lead back GETTY IMAGES 23/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Steve Sidwell puts Fulham level with a chipped effort over Hugo Lloris GETTY IMAGES 24/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Christian Eriksen controls the ball despite pressure from Alex Kacaniklic GETTY IMAGES 25/77 Fulham 1 Norwich 0 Despair for a Norwich City fan after defeat 26/77 Fulham 1 Norwich 0 Hugo Rodallega of Fulham (R) celebrates with Pajtim Kasami as he scores their first goal 27/77 Fulham 1 Norwich 0 Norwich Citys English goalkeeper John Ruddy (C) loses the ball from a corner 28/77 Fulham 1 Norwich 0 Players and fans observe a minute's silence to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster 29/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Ashkan Dejagah and Hugo Rodallega celebrate after scoring a late winning goal GETTY IMAGES 30/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Hugo Rodallega celebrates after scoring Fulham's late winner to take all three points GETTY IMAGES 31/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Ron Vlaar celebrates with Grant Holt GETTY IMAGES 32/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Grant Holt scores Villa's equaliser GETTY IMAGES 33/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Kieran Richardson celebrates his goal to put the away side in front GETTY IMAGES 34/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Pajtim Kasami's effort on goal is stopped by Brad Guzan GETTY IMAGES 35/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Joe Bennett holds off a challenge from Lewis Holtby GETTY IMAGES 36/77 Fulham 1 Everton 3 Steven Naismith (left) scores Everton's third against Fulham GETTY IMAGES 37/77 Fulham 1 Everton 3 Kevin Mirallas (right) celebrates Everton's second goal GETTY IMAGES 38/77 Fulham 1 Everton 3 Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale fails to stop a shot by Steven Naismith (not pictured) of Everton for the opening goal GETTY IMAGES 39/77 Manchester City 5 Fulham 0 Martin Demichelis rounds off the scoring for City GETTY IMAGES 40/77 Manchester City 5 Fulham 0 Yaya Toure celebrates his second goal of the afternoon GETTY IMAGES 41/77 Manchester City 5 Fulham 0 Yaya Toure converts his first penalty GETTY IMAGES 42/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Fulham players celebrate at full time GETTY IMAGES 43/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Tim Krul pleads with referee Howard Webb for a penalty late on GETTY IMAGES 44/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Ashkan Dejagah celebrates his winning goal GETTY IMAGES 45/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Fabricio Coloccini blocks a cross from Pajtim Kasami GETTY IMAGES 46/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Steve Sidwell tackles Cheick Tiote GETTY IMAGES 47/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates his team's victory GETTY IMAGES 48/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steve Sidwell reflects on a damaging defeat for Fulham GETTY IMAGES 49/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Sascha Riether's own goal rounds off Cardiff's 3-1 victory GETTY IMAGES 50/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Sascha Riether scores an own goal under pressure from several Cardiff players GETTY IMAGES 51/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steven Caulker scores his second goal of the afternoon GETTY IMAGES 52/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Lewis Holtby scores for Fulham to level the game at one all GETTY IMAGES 53/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steven Caulker celebrates after putting Cardiff ahead GETTY IMAGES 54/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Craig Noone skips over a sliding tackle from Brede Hangeland GETTY IMAGES 55/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Ashkan Dejagah holds off Fraizer Campbell GETTY IMAGES 56/77 Fulham 1 Chelsea 3 Andre Schurrle opens the scoring for Chelsea 57/77 Fulham 1 Chelsea 3 Andre Schurrle celebrates his and Chelsea's second goal 58/77 Fulham 1 Chelsea 3 Andre Schurrle celebrates completing his hat trick 59/77 West Brom 1 Fulham 1 A point made: Matej Vydra delivers the shot that Maarten Stekelenburg let under his arm for West Bromwich’s late equaliser GETTY IMAGES 60/77 West Brom 1 Fulham 1 James Morrison goes in for a tackle with Scott Parker GETTY IMAGES 61/77 Fulham 2 Liverpool 3 Kieran Richardson gave Fulham the lead for the second time Getty Images 62/77 Fulham 2 Liverpool 3 Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg had to be substituted after a collision with Luis Suarez Getty Images 63/77 Fulham 2 Liverpool 3 Philippe Coutinho's strike levelled the score at 2-2 Getty Images 64/77 Fulham 2 Liverpool 3 Steven Gerrard shows off his guns after Liverpool fired back from behind to beat Fulham Getty Images 65/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Steve Sidwell open the scoring at Old Trafford 66/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Fulham celebrate Sidwell's goal 67/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Michael Carrick gives United the lead 68/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Wayne Rooney, right, of Manchester United in action with John Heitinga, centre, of Fulham at Old Trafford Getty 69/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Darren Bent celebrates after scoring an injury time equaliser 70/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 David Moyes (left) shakes hands with Fulham’s Rene Meulensteen after the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford Getty Images 71/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Fulham parade their new signings before kick off 72/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Luke Shaw takes the ball past Lewis Holtby 73/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Victor Wanyama tackles Steve Sidwell 74/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Adam Lallana opens the scoring 75/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Lallana celebrates his goal 76/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Rickie Lambert doubles Southampton's advantage 77/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Jay Rodriguez scores Southampton's third 1/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Chris David scores in style in the last minute to level the match GETTY IMAGES 2/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Hugo Rodallega misses a good chance for the home side GETTY IMAGES 3/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Dwight Gale curls in Palace's second GETTY IMAGES 4/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Cauley Woodrow celebrates after bringing the home side level GETTY IMAGES 5/77 Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 2 Yannick Bolasie congratulates Dwight Gayle on scoring Palace's first goal GETTY IMAGES 6/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Scott Parker walks back to the half way line after Fulham concede another goal and are relegated GETTY IMAGES 7/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Fulham players Steve Sidwell, Darren Bent and Konstantinos Mitroglou look dejected GETTY IMAGES 8/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 John Walters rounds off the scoring for the home side GETTY IMAGES 9/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Marko Arnautovic shoots past David Stockdale and doubles Stoke's lead GETTY IMAGES 10/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Mahamadou Diarra looks on after Fulham go behind GETTY IMAGES 11/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Stoke players celebrate after Peter Odemwingie's opening goal GETTY IMAGES 12/77 Stoke 4 Fulham 1 Steven N'Zonzi skips over the challenge from Scott Parker GETTY IMAGES 13/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Shane Long celebrates after scoring the equaliser for Hull GETTY IMAGES 14/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Nikica Jelavic celebrates and takes the ball back to the half way line after pulling one back for Hull GETTY IMAGES 15/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Fulham team mates mob Fernando Amorebieta after the Venezuelan makes it two for the home side GETTY IMAGES 16/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Ashkan Dejagah opens the scoring for Fulham GETTY IMAGES 17/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Sascha Riether goes down under a tackle from Nikica Jelavic GETTY IMAGES 18/77 Fulham 2 Hull 2 Scott Parker tackles Shane Long GETTY IMAGES 19/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Younes Kaboul celebrates his goal after putting Spurs 3-1 up GETTY IMAGES 20/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Steve Sidwell and Danny Rose contest for the ball GETTY IMAGES 21/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Hugo Lloris produces a superb save after Hugo Rodallega's header GETTY IMAGES 22/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Harry Kane scores and gives Spurs there lead back GETTY IMAGES 23/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Steve Sidwell puts Fulham level with a chipped effort over Hugo Lloris GETTY IMAGES 24/77 Tottenham 3 Fulham 1 Christian Eriksen controls the ball despite pressure from Alex Kacaniklic GETTY IMAGES 25/77 Fulham 1 Norwich 0 Despair for a Norwich City fan after defeat 26/77 Fulham 1 Norwich 0 Hugo Rodallega of Fulham (R) celebrates with Pajtim Kasami as he scores their first goal 27/77 Fulham 1 Norwich 0 Norwich Citys English goalkeeper John Ruddy (C) loses the ball from a corner 28/77 Fulham 1 Norwich 0 Players and fans observe a minute's silence to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster 29/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Ashkan Dejagah and Hugo Rodallega celebrate after scoring a late winning goal GETTY IMAGES 30/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Hugo Rodallega celebrates after scoring Fulham's late winner to take all three points GETTY IMAGES 31/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Ron Vlaar celebrates with Grant Holt GETTY IMAGES 32/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Grant Holt scores Villa's equaliser GETTY IMAGES 33/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Kieran Richardson celebrates his goal to put the away side in front GETTY IMAGES 34/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Pajtim Kasami's effort on goal is stopped by Brad Guzan GETTY IMAGES 35/77 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2 Joe Bennett holds off a challenge from Lewis Holtby GETTY IMAGES 36/77 Fulham 1 Everton 3 Steven Naismith (left) scores Everton's third against Fulham GETTY IMAGES 37/77 Fulham 1 Everton 3 Kevin Mirallas (right) celebrates Everton's second goal GETTY IMAGES 38/77 Fulham 1 Everton 3 Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale fails to stop a shot by Steven Naismith (not pictured) of Everton for the opening goal GETTY IMAGES 39/77 Manchester City 5 Fulham 0 Martin Demichelis rounds off the scoring for City GETTY IMAGES 40/77 Manchester City 5 Fulham 0 Yaya Toure celebrates his second goal of the afternoon GETTY IMAGES 41/77 Manchester City 5 Fulham 0 Yaya Toure converts his first penalty GETTY IMAGES 42/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Fulham players celebrate at full time GETTY IMAGES 43/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Tim Krul pleads with referee Howard Webb for a penalty late on GETTY IMAGES 44/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Ashkan Dejagah celebrates his winning goal GETTY IMAGES 45/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Fabricio Coloccini blocks a cross from Pajtim Kasami GETTY IMAGES 46/77 Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 Steve Sidwell tackles Cheick Tiote GETTY IMAGES 47/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates his team's victory GETTY IMAGES 48/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steve Sidwell reflects on a damaging defeat for Fulham GETTY IMAGES 49/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Sascha Riether's own goal rounds off Cardiff's 3-1 victory GETTY IMAGES 50/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Sascha Riether scores an own goal under pressure from several Cardiff players GETTY IMAGES 51/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steven Caulker scores his second goal of the afternoon GETTY IMAGES 52/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Lewis Holtby scores for Fulham to level the game at one all GETTY IMAGES 53/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steven Caulker celebrates after putting Cardiff ahead GETTY IMAGES 54/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Craig Noone skips over a sliding tackle from Brede Hangeland GETTY IMAGES 55/77 Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Ashkan Dejagah holds off Fraizer Campbell GETTY IMAGES 56/77 Fulham 1 Chelsea 3 Andre Schurrle opens the scoring for Chelsea 57/77 Fulham 1 Chelsea 3 Andre Schurrle celebrates his and Chelsea's second goal 58/77 Fulham 1 Chelsea 3 Andre Schurrle celebrates completing his hat trick 59/77 West Brom 1 Fulham 1 A point made: Matej Vydra delivers the shot that Maarten Stekelenburg let under his arm for West Bromwich’s late equaliser GETTY IMAGES 60/77 West Brom 1 Fulham 1 James Morrison goes in for a tackle with Scott Parker GETTY IMAGES 61/77 Fulham 2 Liverpool 3 Kieran Richardson gave Fulham the lead for the second time Getty Images 62/77 Fulham 2 Liverpool 3 Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg had to be substituted after a collision with Luis Suarez Getty Images 63/77 Fulham 2 Liverpool 3 Philippe Coutinho's strike levelled the score at 2-2 Getty Images 64/77 Fulham 2 Liverpool 3 Steven Gerrard shows off his guns after Liverpool fired back from behind to beat Fulham Getty Images 65/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Steve Sidwell open the scoring at Old Trafford 66/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Fulham celebrate Sidwell's goal 67/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Michael Carrick gives United the lead 68/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Wayne Rooney, right, of Manchester United in action with John Heitinga, centre, of Fulham at Old Trafford Getty 69/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 Darren Bent celebrates after scoring an injury time equaliser 70/77 Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 David Moyes (left) shakes hands with Fulham’s Rene Meulensteen after the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford Getty Images 71/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Fulham parade their new signings before kick off 72/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Luke Shaw takes the ball past Lewis Holtby 73/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Victor Wanyama tackles Steve Sidwell 74/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Adam Lallana opens the scoring 75/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Lallana celebrates his goal 76/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Rickie Lambert doubles Southampton's advantage 77/77 Fulham 0 Southampton 3 Jay Rodriguez scores Southampton's third

Wilkins said he "didn't want to make a fuss" about his condition.

"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," he added.

"I was very stupid about the drink-driving and I have had trouble with depression on occasions - but not since I was back in football."

PA

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