George Best, the former Manchester United football star, has only hours to live, his doctor said today.

Professor Roger Williams, who is leading the team treating Mr Best at the Cromwell Hospital in West London, said that the 59-year-old had suffered internal bleeding in his lungs, a complication which cannot be successfully treated.

He told reporters: "I'm afraid Mr Best is coming to the end of the long road of his ill health.

"The situation is that medically the intensive care team and everybody concerned managed to cope with the pretty much all the complications - except for the one that happened again during the night, the bleeding...There really is no return from that situation and it's just not possible to recover that episode he had during the night."

Professor Williams, who has treated Mr Best for five years and was visibly moved during his short briefing outside the hospital, said that the former footballer was no longer conscious and was not in pain. His family, including his 87-year-old father, were with him at his bedside.

"He is still alive, still having medical care and treatment, but I have to tell you that his hours are numbered now," Professor Williams said.

"I can't be precise as to the time, but it is the final stages of this illness and I'm afraid he could die any time over the next 24 hours, I'd be very surprised if he survived more than 24 hours."

Mr Best's agent, Phil Hughes, was equally downbeat at his condition, saying: "The doctors said he had a really bad night. We will know more later today."

It was also revealed that Best, who received a controversial liver transplant in 2002, carries a donor card and his organs will be used to help others live.

Prof Roger Williams, who has overseen Best’s treatment, left the private Cromwell Hospital in west London tonight saying: "There is no change, just deterioration."

Widely considered to be the most talented footballer of his generation, the former Northern Ireland international has battled alcoholism since his twenties. He was widely criticised for continuing to drink after his transplant.

He was admitted to the Cromwell Hospital on October 1 with flu-like symptoms and has also been suffering from a kidney infection.

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