Potteries pop star Robbie Williams is on the road to recovery in a rehab centre in America, according to his family.The star - who booked himself into the centre on his 33rd birthday for dependency to prescription drugs - is said to be feeling "positive", as he reaches the half-way stage of his programme of treatment. His sister, Sally Williams, said: "Robbie is doing okay. "I've not spoken to him, but my mum has.
"He's feeling a lot better and is looking forward to getting to the end of his treatment.
"My mum is feeling positive about it, now he's feeling good. She's going to fly out to America to see him in about a week to 10-days' time."
Sally said the singer was concerned about the way his spell in rehab would be seen back home, but was relieved and encouraged to learn of the support he had received from the Potteries.
The Sentinel has been flooded with messages from fans backing the star in his fight against his addiction.
Sally said: "He was concerned and he didn't know how it would be portrayed in the media, but mum explained how it's been very positive and about the messages of support from the charities and the public.
"He was very relieved to know it's not been a massive nightmare.
"He was pleased it was all positive. So he's feeling pretty good at the moment."
Robbie is reportedly being treated at the Meadows treatment centre in Arizona. It has previously helped stars such as Kate Moss and Mike Tyson confront their demons. Last year the 70-bed facility admitted 677 patients, who stayed for an average 35 days, for an estimated cost of 33,500 (Ј17,044).
According to its own treatment philosophy, "the goal of treatment is to help the patient identify the traumas that have led to their present behaviour and learn to change their thinking and behaviour to support a lifestyle of recovery".
Robbie's dad, Pete Conway said: "He's OK. He's fine and in good shape.
"I shall see him shortly, I shall be going to Los Angeles. Robbie has had lots of messages of support."
Next week The Sentinel will be presenting Robbie's mum, Jan, with a framed double page Sentinel spread containing scores of messages of support and goodwill from our readers.
The gift will then be sent to the star as he recuperates in the States.
Sentinel Editor-in-Chief Mike Sassi said: "We have been overwhelmed with tributes and get-well messages from Sentinel readers and our website has been inundated with comments from Robbie's fans from all over the world.
"We want to make sure that these messages are passed on to him to help with what we hope will be a speedy recovery."
Meanwhile, back home in North Staffordshire, Robbie has been offered the opportunity to continue on the road to recovery by coaching or managing an academy football team at Manchester Metropolitan University's Alsager campus.
Coach Melvyn Wilkes, of Kidsgrove, said: "I played football against Robbie a couple of times when he was at St Margaret Ward School.
"He's a football person, he was very passionate about Port Vale.
"I think he needs that side of his life back. This is a genuine offer.
"We'd love him to train with us, or even better if he would consider coaching or managing one of our academy teams.
"I think he could do it. This would give him something he could focus on and goals he could work towards."
TheSentinial
