British journalist and television broadcaster Piers Morgan has insisted that the money given to Paul Gascoigne to help him battle his alcohol addiction was not wasted.

Morgan, along with a number of celebrities and sporting figures including Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, donated funds for Gascoigne to receive treatment at a rehab clinic in the United States.

Following his stint, the England football legend appeared to be continuing his life without alcohol until it emerged that he had allegedly assaulted his ex-wife Sheryl in a drunken rage.

"We all feel terrible," the Daily Star quotes Morgan as saying. "Not because we wasted our money. We didn't. We bought him at least a few more months of life.

"Now we feel terrible because Paul is quite obviously so ill that he just can't stop himself feeding his addiction. And it's highly likely that if he continues the way he's going, he will die very soon."

Gascoigne is also said to have been taken to hospital after collapsing at a hotel in London.