Red card for Best

She has nursed him through his battle with alcoholism, but George Best's long-suffering wife Alex had finally had enough last night.

Their eight-year marriage looked to be in tatters after claims that he had tried to seduce a 25-year-old blonde.

'I've sent him packing. I've had enough,' said Alex, 31.

'It's absolutely devastating. I don't know what to say or think. I'm so fed up at the moment. I'm not even bothering to listen to him.

'Whatever he does there is always little bits and pieces to worry about. If he drinks that's fine - well it's not fine by me, but at least I can control it. But any other woman involved, then no way. It's off.'

Alex was thought to have taken a flight to London after checking out of the Holiday Inn in Sliema, Malta, where she and Best had been staying on holiday.

She had earlier thrown her husband out of their room, although the former Manchester United star checked into another one in the same hotel.

Best, 57, has been accused of making advances to jobless Paula Shapland, telling her he was divorcing his wife and promising her a life of luxury with him.

But he insisted yesterday that he had been set up by a Sunday newspaper which published her claims.

He did not emerge from his room until after lunch, but he refused to deny the story. 'They paid her to say it,' he said.

Best cut a forlorn figure as he sat by the pool. A guest said: 'He looked desolate and alone, like a little boy lost.'

Later, wearing a light-green T-shirt and cream shorts, he sat in the TV room by the bar, watching Manchester United beat Arsenal in the Community Shield. He then returned alone to his room. Miss Shapland, who has close-cropped peroxide hair, was in hiding yesterday, but friends claimed her boyfriend had encouraged her to make money out of the alleged relationship.

'She told us a couple of weeks ago,' said one friend. 'She said, "I've been up the pub having a kiss and cuddle with George Best".

'We didn't believe her at first. She looks like a boy, nothing compared to Alex.'

The friend went on: 'She told us he was phoning her and she was phoning him. She likes older men, she always has.

'She kept asking, "Do you think I should talk to the papers?" Her boyfriend, though, said, "Go for it, we'll get a house out of it".

'She's quite keen to be with George, though. I think her feelings are genuine. I think she's probably a bit confused.'

Miss Shapland told the News of the World she met Best on July 11 at her local pub, the Chequers in Walton on the Hill, Surrey, which is a few miles from his home. She said that after a few minutes of small talk he tried to kiss her and asked for her phone number.

Eight days ago they were pictured going for a walk in local woodland.

She said Best was 'relentless'. But she insisted she had feelings for him, saying she was 'flattered and shocked'. Best's

manager Phil Hughes said yesterday: 'Alex certainly didn't know anything about this. I'm very shocked and upset. It's very sad that this has happened.'

It was revealed last month that Best, who had a liver transplant last year, had been drinking again and went on a week-long binge. Alex left their £750,000 home in Upper Gatton, but Best apologised and bought her a £53,000 Mercedes.

He said then: 'I'm sure it has crossed her mind to leave me. She'd be perfectly entitled to, I just have to hope she doesn't.'