George Best's friends have been told that he is "nearing the end" in a series of farewell messages that he authorised from his bed in intensive care.

The condition of the football legend, who is 59, was today said to be "as bad as it gets".

Members of his family were keeping a vigil at his bedside at the Cromwell Hospital in west London. He was reportedly too weak to speak and asked an aide to phone other friends and relatives to say goodbye on his behalf.

The former Northern Ireland footballer, who had a liver transplant in 2002 to counter the impact of his well-documented alcoholism, was admitted to the Cromwell three weeks ago with a lung infection.

Drugs he was taking to prevent his liver from being rejected are thought to have made his body more vulnerable, and the infection spread rapidly. He was put on a life support machine after suffering internal bleeding.

Phil Hughes, his agent, said Best was now unconscious. "He wasn’t really in good spirits before they knocked him out. He’s got internal bleeding, he’s seriously ill - at this point, he’s fighting for his life. It’s about as bad as it can get."

The agent said Best - regarded by many as the most talented player Britain has produced - has not been well enough to contact any friends or family directly.

"I texted a couple of his close friends but apart from Calum (his son by his first marriage) and his brothers and sisters, George hasn’t contacted anyone."

Calum told the Evening Standard: "It's touch and go. It's looking pretty bleak at the moment but I have every faith in the doctors. It's a very emotional time."

Best's father Dickie is believed to have made a rare trip from his Belfast home to be at his son's bedside. His sisters Barbara, Carol and Julie are also said to be there.

Stephen Purdew, who runs Champney's health spa where Best has lived for the past two years, told the Standard: "I've had what amounts to a farewell message. It was made clear he may have days - if not hours - to live."

His former wife, Alex, said that she had been told his condition had "deteriorated dramatically". She said: "I am just praying that, once again, he somehow manages to pull through against all the odds. He's always been a fighter. My thoughts and prayers are with him."

Professor Roger Williams, who is in charge of Best’s treatment, said that the former Manchester United star had been conscious while tests were carried out before he was placed on a ventilator. Prof Williams said Best was "fully aware" of how serious his condition is.

Prof Williams said: "He wasn’t in good spirits. He was very depressed, but is still fighting away, as he always does. We are just hoping we can control the bleeding."

He added: "We are not giving up. There’s still a chance we can get him through this."

The private hospital released an update on Best’s condition today: "George Best remains in intensive care. His condition is stable but he is suffering from complications common in ICU patients.The unit is doing everything possible."

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