Support for Cecchi Gori

The ex-Viola chief was arrested in Rome, accused of fraud and running the club into bankruptcy.

The club are currently in a terrible state, with new owner Diego Della Valle attempting to lift them out of Serie C2.

Despite the problems, Cecchi Gori has been backed by a whole host of big names.

Internazionale defender Daniele Adani said: "I'm close to him and I can only pray for him.

"I`ve found him to be a solitary figure who has been surrounded by people who did little good for Fiorentina.

"He always took responsibility, and I cannot accept any ill-feeling towards a person like him.

"I hope this situation can be solved soon."

Veteran coach Carlo Mazzone, now at Brescia, said: "He isn't a brigand. In this moment I'm particularly close to him.

"He'll have many blemishes but he's a good person. Probably his biggest error is to always be a friend of all the people."

Former Fiorentina manager Giancarlo Antognoni added: "He surely made many mistakes, but I believe in his good faith. We can`t remember only the negative moments, let`s remember the good ones."

Inter keeper Francesco Toldo commented: "In a certain way Cecchi Gori is a person with whom there have been good and bad moments."