' David James goes bankrupt

Friday 16th May 2014.
Daily Telegraph:

David James, who just four years ago was England’s number one goalkeeper in the 2010 World Cup, has declared himself bankrupt.
According to a report in The Sun he built up debts following a costly divorce from his wife Tanya in 2005.
The goalkeeper reportedly earned £20 million in his 25-year career, in which he played for several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester City.
The 43-year-old also secured other lucative contracts in his career, contributing to that total, including working as a model for Armani.
But despite investing his earnings in several properties Mr James filed a debtor’s petition at Hertford County Court last week.
The documents state Mr James, who now works as a football pundit for BT Sport, will be automatically discharged from bankruptcy in a year.
Mr James is the latest high profile footballer to fall on hard times after quitting the lucrative game. Many seem to encounter similar problems.
Some have racked up debts having invested in several properties, while others have been chased down and fined by the taxman for investing in schemes that were invented to shelter tax.
Others have frittered wealth away elsewhere.
Keith Gillespie, dubbed the new George Best when he broke into Man Utd’s first team at age 17, lost his entire career earnings of £7 million after developing a gambling habit at an early stage. He also invested in property and in a film scheme investment, which was set up to avoid tax. Mr Gillespie declared himself bankrupt in 2010.
Another footballer who has lost it all is Lee Hendrie, the former Aston Villa midfielder, who won one cap for England. Mr Hendrie declared bankrupt in 2012, unable to repay debts of £200,000 after the value of his property investments plummeted.
Other footballers who have been declared bankrupt include former Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro and Eric Djemba-Djemba, who played for Manchester United.
But not all footballers have lost out investing in property. Some, such as ex-Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, have made millions.
Last year Mr Fowler launched a "property academy" to teach the secrets of buy-to-let investing.
Mr Fowler, who is said to be worth £28m, built a portfolio of properties across the North West during his long playing career and is thought to own more than 80 rental properties.

i bet David James' wife isnt struggling.

He's earned £20m in his career, I have no sympathy with him. Take everything off him and make him live like the rest of us.

What a f*cking moron! Welcome to the real world David.

You'd think a goalie would be good at saving.

You'd think a goalie would be good at saving.

haha......he let it slip through his hands....

Quite shocking really. He comes across as quite an intelligent clued up man. There's plenty of footballers I'd say have got a good chance of ending up in the shit, but he wouldn't be one of them

He's earned £20m in his career, I have no sympathy with him. Take everything off him and make him live like the rest of us.

this

I heard a story about him when he damaged his Jag,he didn't n bother to get it repaired but went out and bought another one.The first car only had some scratches on it.

What fucks me off is in his divorce settlement his wife was awarded half of his future earnings. Thats f*cking disgusting!

They called him Calamity james for a reason.

He writes an article in the Observer most Sundays, and they're very good, interesting, and well written. Often pokes fun at himself. He always donates his fee to charity.

He's earned £20m in his career, I have no sympathy with him. Take everything off him and make him live like the rest of us.

I agree with this. The phrase tough shit springs to mind.

What fucks me off is in his divorce settlement his wife was awarded half of his future earnings. Thats f*cking disgusting!

Didn't Ray Parlours ex start this trend?

What fucks me off is in his divorce settlement his wife was awarded half of his future earnings. Thats f*cking disgusting!

Didn't Ray Parlours ex start this trend?

I believe you are correct. Its a disgusting rule

You'd think a goalie would be good at saving.

haha......he let it slip through his hands....

He clearly wasn't very good at calculating his net salary.

What fucks me off is in his divorce settlement his wife was awarded half of his future earnings. Thats f*cking disgusting!

Agreed

I find it shocking how quickly they can fall. In 4 years going from playing in the world cup to bankrupt.. It's beyond me

What fucks me off is in his divorce settlement his wife was awarded half of his future earnings. Thats f*cking disgusting!

Didn't Ray Parlours ex start this trend?

I believe you are correct. Its a disgusting rule

You never hear it being the other way round. Has there ever been a case when the bloke takes the ex to the cleaners ?

Easily get a job in commentary/punditry or being a goal keeping coach..

If you really think he has nothing t don't then you know shit. More than likely he done this to ensure that his ex doesn't get anything. I would be very surprised if his money isn't in offshore bank accounts where the authorities in this country can't touch it then by declaring himself bankrupt is just the final piece of the jigsaw in ensuring that she wouldn't be able to get any money from now on.

If you really think he has nothing t don't then you know shit. More than likely he done this to ensure that his ex doesn't get anything. I would be very surprised if his money isn't in offshore bank accounts where the authorities in this country can't touch it then by declaring himself bankrupt is just the final piece of the jigsaw in ensuring that she wouldn't be able to get any money from now on.

Hmmm if he has done this then Fair play to the fooker