“I am afraid Mr Best is coming to the end of the long road of his ill-health,” said his tearful consultant Professor Roger Williams.

The ex-Manchester United striker’s family, including son Calum, 24, and father Dickie, 87, kept a vigil by his bedside, and former team mates Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law came to say emotional goodbyes.

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.”

Earlier, Prof Williams was close to tears as he announced outside the hospital that Best was about to die.

“He is still alive, he is still having standard medical care and treatment, but I have to tell you that his hours are numbered now.

“I can’t be precise as to time but it is the final stages of this illness and I am afraid he could die at any time over the next 24 hours.

“I would be very surprised if he survives another 24 hours.”

The former Northern Ireland star had a liver transplant after his own failed following years of alcohol abuse.

Best, who ignored pleas to stay off the booze after the operation, was admitted to the Cromwell on October 1 suffering from a flu-like infection.

His health deteriorated rapidly when he developed a kidney infection, but he then rallied and his condition was thought to be improving until the early hours of Friday when he suffered a severe setback.

He developed a lung infection and was put back on a ventilator in intensive care, but remained alert.

His condition deteriorated last night and Prof Williams said there was no longer anything doctors could do.

Asked how the family were coping, he said: “I have talked to them at great length, I think they understand everything. Calum is there, everybody is there. I think they accept what’s going to happen.”

Milan Mandaric, the chairman of Portsmouth Football Club and a good friend of Best’s, visited him in his final hours and said the star had “a large heart”.

“What is a shame it is that people who don’t know George don’t know what a great man he is,” said Mr Mandaric.

“George was always there for me, I will always be there for George. I just want George to still be around, that would be my hope.”

He said the family were taking Best’s deterioration badly.

“It’s not easy for them, Calum loves his dad, they are all good people like George,” he said.