A number of Paul Gascoigne's former colleagues and opponents have offered their support to the troubled star.
The ex-England midfielder was sectioned under the Mental Health Act following a series of incidents at a hotel in Gateshead this week, but many of those in the game who know him believe he can come through his problems.
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has been in contact with the player's family and is willing to offer help in whatever way he can.
"He was my boot boy when I was a player here and not a very good boot boy at that," he said on Sky Sports News. "He lost my boots.
"We as a club will do everything we can to help. His family know that - we've talked to them - and we can help a lot.
"It's sad, but maybe what's happened now will be a turning point for him. Instead of looking at as something really bad, this might be the best thing.
"I have talked to his dad and one of his sisters and I know it looks negative but I think it's a massive positive for Paul Gascoigne from all the information I've had."
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate played with Gascoigne in the England side that reached the semi-finals of Euro 96, and he remains optimistic about the situation.
"It is obviously a very sad situation, but I am sure he will come through it," he said.
"He was loved by everybody because he put everybody else first.
"He would do anything for anybody and, hopefully, people will do the same for him now because he obviously needs that help."
Wigan manager Steve Bruce, who has struck up a friendship with Gascoigne, said: "Like everyone else, I am obviously saddened and shocked.
"We all hope where he is now, he is in the best hands and we hope he can come through this major obstacle.
"He has come through before but he will need the support of everyone around him and let's hope he is okay."
Gascoigne was part of the Everton squad when David Moyes took over at the club, and Moyes says he has always been a popular figure at the club.
"He is a good man, a good person and was always willing to help others. Everyone at this club will tell you that," he said.
"When I have been around him he has proved to be a real gent. We all here hope he gets the help he needs."
Roy Keane played against Gascoigne as part of the Nottingham Forest team beaten by Tottenham in the 1991 FA Cup final, and he believes the troubled star has found it difficult since retiring from football.
"We all send our best to Paul," he said. "It's obviously sad, but we pray from everyone from Sunderland that he pulls through okay because no-one likes to see that.
"That is a problem, particularly with a lot of footballers when you stop playing - there is a massive gap in your life.
"We all pray that Paul finds a bit of peace and serenity because he deserves it."

Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Blog
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ferguson
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ancelotti
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Terry
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Zola
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Moyes
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Martinez
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Hodgson
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 12 | 30 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 11 | 20 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 11 | 18 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 12 | 17 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 12 | 16 |
| 10 | Burnley | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 11 | 15 |
| 12 | Everton | 11 | 15 |
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 11 | 11 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 17 | Hull City | 12 | 11 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 12 | 10 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Skysports.com looks at the best and worst moments from the latest round of top-flight fixtures.
Have a read through the skysports.com debate on Chelsea's 1-0 win over Man Utd at Stamford Bridge.
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
A John Terry header proved the difference as Chelsea beat Manchester United to move clear at the top of the Premier League.
Hull came from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 at the KC Stadium to ease the pressure on Phil Brown.
Wes Brown feels Chelsea's winning goal should not have stood as he insists he was fouled by Didier Drogba.
Sir Alex Ferguson insisted John Terry's winner should not have been allowed to stand after Man United's defeat at Chelsea.
Carlo Ancelotti admitted his delight in beating Chelsea's "best opponent" at Stamford Bridge.