honeymoon in Bermuda earlier this year, was in critical condition last night after being hit by a car while walking home in the east end of London.

Forty six-year-old Hudson, who has frequently coached local youngsters during several trips to Bermuda over the past decade, underwent emergency surgery for internal and head injuries after being struck on Monday night.

Friends and family said he had not regained consciousness after a 14-hour operation to remove a blood clot from his brain at the Royal London Hospital.

"He's not fully recovered, but they have stabilised the bleeding and got rid of a blood clot in the brain,'' his son, Alan Jr., said. "It looked really grim at one point.'' Greg Duke, a family friend, said Hudson was in "critical but stable condition.'' "His family were informed that his situation was grave but have just been told he has improved slightly, though he has still not yet gained consciousness,'' he said.

The accident occurred at 10.30 p.m. when Hudson was walking home in Bow Road, East London.

Police said the driver of the car took a breathalyser test but was not arrested.

"According to the police, Alan had apparently stepped off the pavement and was hit by a car which must have been travelling at high speed,'' Hudson's wife, Ann, told a London newspaper yesterday. "I can't believe it. We were only just getting ready for Christmas together -- and now this.'' Hudson was a star midfielder on the Chelsea team which won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1971, defeating Real Madrid in a final replay. He scored 14 goals in 189 League and Cup games for Chelsea.

Hudson made only two appearances for England, both in 1975, helping the national side to a 5-0 win against Cyprus and 2-0 victory over reigning World Cup champions Germany.

He reached the FA Cup final in 1977 with Arsenal, losing 1-0 to Ipswich.

Hudson also played in the United States with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League and with the Spanish club Hercules Alicante.

He retired in 1985 and went into the nightclub and restaurant business.

HAPPIER DAYS -- Alan Hudson pictured with his wife Ann at their wedding reception in Bermuda last June.

ACCIDENT AC