Leeds great Peter Lorimer receiving care in a hospice due to long-term illness

Leeds’ all-time top goalscorer Peter Lorimer is in a hospice due to a long-term illness.

Rumours about the former Scotland winger circulated on social media on Thursday night and Leeds have issued a statement to update their fans on the 74-year-old’s condition.

The Premier League club said: “Sadly we can confirm that Peter Lorimer is currently in a hospice battling a long-term illness.

“Peter, his wife Sue and their family would like some privacy at this time, but also want to thank the Leeds United fans across the world for their wonderful messages of support.

“The club will update fans on Peter’s progress in due course.”

Lorimer, a member of Don Revie’s great side of the 1960s and 70s, made 676 appearances for Leeds during two different spells from 1962-79 and 1983-85.

During his career he was known as ‘Hotshot Lorimer’ and was considered to have one of the hardest shots in the game.

His 238 goals for the Whites are a club record and he scored four times in 21 appearances for Scotland.

Lorimer won seven major trophies with Leeds, including the old First Division title in 1968/9 and 1973/4 and the FA Cup in 1972.

He crashed home a trademark volley in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich in 1975, but his effort was controversially disallowed and Leeds went on to lose 2-0.

The Scot, born in Dundee, was also involved in another great sporting moment when he was denied an equaliser by Sunderland goalkeeper Jim Montgomery’s superb save in the 1973 FA Cup final.

Lorimer retired as a player in 1986 after a brief spell with Whitby and was later appointed to Leeds’ board as a director. He was named as the club’s first ambassador in 2013.