George Best out of intensive care

Doctors said they were "very pleased" with Best's progress since undergoing surgery at a London hospital on Tuesday.

The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star has moved to a specialist liver ward at the Cromwell Hospital in west London.

A hospital spokesman said: "Mr Best remains stable and is moving out of intensive care this morning to the liver ward.

"He is continuing to make good progress. He is talking and smiling and has expressed his thanks to everyone for sending all their get well messages and best wishes."

Best's wife Alex, 29, told reporters it was a "massive relief" her husband had come through the operation successfully.

Support

Since news broke of the operation the 56-year-old football legend has received thousands of letters of support.

Best's agent Philip Hughes, accepting them on his behalf, said Best was "overwhelmed" by the public's "amazing" support.

BBC Sport Online has received also thousands of email messages which it plans to pass on to him.

Professor Roger Williams, consultant physician at the hospital, said Best - a recovering alcoholic - would be in hospital for several weeks but if he got through the first week, his long-term chances of survival were good.

He said Best was improving and was in "excellent form".

"We are taking it day by day, but he's doing incredibly well," he said.

In December last year Best was admitted to hospital in Limassol, Cyprus, suffering from a fever and a gastrointestinal tract infection.

The star underwent extensive treatment for liver damage at the Cromwell Hospital two years ago.

He was warned then that if he ever drank again it could kill him.

And in February last year Best, who now works as a sports commentator, was treated at Belfast City Hospital for pneumonia.

He has battled with drink all his life and was arrested in 1984 for drink-driving and assaulting a police officer.