Football story by Carl Anders, Sun, 30 Oct 2005 05:04:00 GMT


LONDON - Former Manchester United soccer star George Best remains in a critical condition in the private hospital where he is recovering from an infection that has kept him in intensive care for almost a month. Best's doctor said on Saturday that he was making a slow but steady improvement.

Best, who was thought to be nearing his death last week is still on a ventilator, but there has been noticeable improvement in his condition, "He still is seriously ill but there's no doubt there has been some improvement in the last 48 hours," Professor Roger Williams, his doctor told reporters.

"He's still sedated and still on the ventilator. (But) all of his observations are stable. He's certainly not bleeding any where near as much as he was, in fact hardly at all now." He said that a change of medication appeared to have done the trick in controlling the internal bleeding.

The Belfast-born Best has been hailed as the greatest star produced by Manchester United. He had an alcohol problem and had to undergo a liver transplant in 2002. However, a sudden worsening of his condition this week made everyone fear the worst.

In fact his United teammate Denis Law was moved to tears after he visited his friend at the Cromwell hospital in west London. "We knew he was not well, this latest one is the most serious. He is still there, he is a fighter, I have always known that. I did get a shock, the man's not looking good," Law said fighting tears.

Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that everyone was praying for Best's speedy recovery, "He has had a lot of problems over the years. We are all rooting for him and hope he pulls through. Everyone has their own opinion and their favourite players but, in terms of British players, you would find it difficult to think of anyone better than George Best."

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