The battle for Britney!

The parents
Jamie and Lynne Spears

Occupations: Jamie is a caterer, Lynne a sometime author

Their part in her downfall: Having set Britney on the road to fame aged eight, Lynne recently revealed her regret at being absent from her life.

"I wish I'd been there more while she was touring," insisted Lynne. "But I couldn't be. I had the other kids to look after."

Current status: Jamie is in charge of Brit's estate - worth Dhs150 million - having been awarded conservatorship by a US court.

Shady behaviour: "As the money came in, the family began to fight more," spilled an insider. "If Brit was aggravated with Lynne, maybe [her brother] Bryan would side with Britney because he was on the payroll." And Brit's uncle William, last week, insisted, "Just about everyone in the family is a drunk, and Jamie was one of the worst."

Their future: Both living in homes paid for by Britney, it's unclear, until she's well again, whether she'll cut her parents off... or thank them!

They say: "Come on daddy, let's get out of here. Take my hand and let's walk out of here together," Jamie Spears revealed Britney told him, as she struggled to comprehend her recent stay in a psychiatric ward. "[I told her] ‘I wish I could, but I can't.'"

Britney's Lawyers
Trope and Trope

Occupation: The singer's high-powered legal team Their Part In Her Downfall: The troubled singer's lawyers are desperately trying to remove Jamie as conservator of his daughter's estate.

Current status: Trope and Trope are constantly going back and forth to court as the battle over the estate goes on.

They say: "[Britney] has expressed a very strong desire that her father not be appointed conservator," said Adam Streisand. "He has been estranged from her and this is causing her even more stress."

Objection, Your Honour! Jeryll Cohen, Jamie's lawyer, shot back saying, "[Jamie is looking] for the least ugly way to save this young woman's life, bring her back to her babies, and keep her safe

The ‘boyfriend'
Adnan Ghalib

Occupation: Paparazzo

His part in her downfall: The British snapper started dating the troubled singer at the beginning of the year, and their relationship, coinciding with her rapid descent into a mental breakdown, led one source to say, "It's like the lamb going to stay with the wolf pack."

Current status: Last week, Adnan turned up to visit Britney where she's being treated at UCLA Medical Centre, but was turned away by Lynne Spears.

"Adnan looked very sad," spilled a witness. "He didn't talk to anyone and tried to avoid having his picture taken."

Shady behaviour: Rumoured to tip off his pap agency, Finalpixx, for snaps of Brit, media sources claim that he also tried to sell videos of the singer for millions.

His future: A sick Britney has called Adnan "my only friend in the world". But when she is back to feeling and acting normally, insiders doubt she will still want the man who "has followed her relentlessly for months".

He says: "I think she was hoping she was pregnant with my child".

The Svengali
Sam Lutfi

Occupation: Britney's ‘Manager'

His part in her downfall: Sources claim Lutfi, who appeared in Brit's life last summer, has a history of harassment. Pals said they were "frightened" of his influence. Adding, "She's so desperate for a friend, it's easy once you get in there."

Current status: Jamie Spears has taken a restraining order out against Lutfi and he has to stay 250 yards away from the singer for now.

Shady behaviour: Lutfi has had two restraining orders issued against him in the past, with one man saying, "[Sam said], ‘You will regret the day you ever met me.'"

His future: He seems confident he'll wangle his way back in.

He says: "[Her parents are] never gonna be able to rule her forever."

Sam under siege
The shady ‘manager' stands accused of doing and saying some very nasty things...

Lynne accuses Sam: "[Sam said to me], ‘If you don't listen to me, I'm going to make your name s*** in the papers... If you try to get rid of me, she'll be dead and I'll p*** on her grave."

Jamie and Lynne accuse Sam: "Mr Lutfi has drugged Britney. He has cut Britney's home phone line and removed her cell phone chargers. He claims to control everything."

Lynne accuses Sam: "Sam had told Britney that she was an unfit mother, a piece of trash and a w****... and that she does not deserve the kids."

Dad accuses Sam: "Britney told me that there was some property of hers that Sam Lutfi had wrongfully taken. She asked me to help get it back. I told her that I would."