Emile Heskey has pledged a six-figure sum to help former Leicester striker Gary Lineker rescue his old club from administration.
The crisis-hit Foxes called in the administrators this week, but Lineker is heading a consortium to buy the club. Now Heskey, who left Leicester for Liverpool in a club-record Stg£11 million transfer two years ago, has offered his support.
Lineker's group need to raise £5 million to fund a buy-out and have reportedly raised £1.75 million already. Acting football club chairman Martin George said: "This is obviously very good news for us and a great help.
"Like Gary, Emile Heskey has not forgotten the club that set him on the way to the top and wants to lend his support in a very positive way.
"I think it is fair to say we are very pleased and encouraged with Emile's move. He was not approached and contacted us off his own bat. That shows the depth of his willingness to help the cause," he told the Leicester Mercury.