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      Champions League and World Cup star who sparked manhunt after retiring loses fight over £6million loss in housing empire

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      EX-LIVERPOOL right-back Steve Finnan who once triggered a bizarre manhunt has lost a legal battle to claim £6 million in compensation.The 47-year-old – briefly untraceable in 2015 – blamed lawyers for the collapse of the housing empire he built with brother, Sean.
      Ex-Liverpool right-back Steve Finnan has lost a legal battle to claim £6 million in compensationCredit: PA:Press Association
      It turned out to be a disaster and the pair fell out leaving Mr Finnan, who is Irish, alleging to be more than £6 million out of pocket.
      Representing himself in court he sued former lawyers Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.
      But this week the case was kicked out by High Court judge Master Katherine McQuail.
      She said the ex-footballer couldn’t prove he was any worse off after seeking legal advice than he would have been otherwise.
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      The Irishman was in the Reds lineup which clawed back the legendary 2005 Champions League final win against AC Milan in Istanbul.
      Finnan is the only footballer to play in the World Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup, Intertoto Cup, all four levels of English league football and the conference.
      But in June 2005 he was arrested after running over an 81-year-old man from Liverpool who later died from his injuries.
      After retiring in 2010, his decision to keep a low profile saw fans launch a bizarre campaign to find him.
      Most read in Football
      It came as organisers failed to track him down for a 2015 reunion of the Champions League winning team – he was found “safe and well” a short time later.
      Unlike former teammates such as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Finnan had gone into property not punditry.
      He bankrolled a south west London-based property business, run through two companies which he owned with Sean, who managed the firm.
      Among the portfolio was a massive house near Wimbledon Common, properties in nearby Ridgeway Place, and several flats elsewhere.
      Master McQuail said the “first expression of the claimant’s concerns” about the business had come in an email from Mr Finnan to the companies’ solicitor in 2016.
      She said he complained that despite “significant funding from the claimant by way of loans, the companies appeared to have no money, at least in part because Sean had spent it personally.”
      He said money had been wasted on legal issues which were “down to Sean”, that his brother’s dealings with a contractor had been “needlessly expensive” and that there was a risk the companies would default on loans.
      Mr Finnan instructed Charles Russell Speechlys to file “unfair prejudice” petitions against Sean who denied misconduct but admitted their relationship had broken down.
      He changed lawyers but the case did not go to trial and the brothers settled outside court, with Sean agreeing to transfer his shares to Mr Finnan and to pay him £4 million.
      That sum was not paid and in 2019 Mr Finnan had his brother made bankrupt claiming he only got £187,570 from the sale of the company and £89,345 following the sale of another property.
      Amid the ordeal he auctioned off his Champions League winners’ medal.
      Mr Finnan went on to sue his former solicitors, claiming that he should have been advised to request repayment of director’s loans rather than file the “unfair prejudice” petitions.
      He claimed he lost £3.3m in loans to the companies, £2.6m in shares, about £400,000 in lawyers’ bills, as well as other money, totalling more than £6m.
      But the solicitors said Mr Finnan was determined to pursue legal proceedings against his brother.
      And they said Mr Finnan failed to show how he could have got out from the ordeal in any better position than he in fact did because companies had no money to repay the loans anyway.
      Master McQuail said Mr Finnan had in fact made demands for repayment of the directors’ loans – and got nothing.
      She added: “Neither Sean nor the companies responded by meeting the demands with payment at any stage after Charles Russell Speechlys were instructed.”
      She said Mr Finnan’s claims were “contradicted” by his own evidence and his correspondence showed this.
      Master McQuail added how there was “no reasonable ground” for bringing the claim and struck it out.
      Read more on The Sun
      Limerick-born Mr Finnan began his career with non-league Welling United, rising through the football pyramid to play for Liverpool between 2003 and 2008.
      He played for Ireland 52 times. More

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      Who is Jamie Arnold and what crimes did he commit?

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      JAMIE Arnold was found guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence aimed at Rio Ferdinand while he was working as a pundit in May 2021.Here we take a look at the crimes Arnold committed and what Ferdinand has said about them.
      Rio Ferdinand was working as a pundit for BT Sport when Jamie Arnold racially abused himCredit: Rex
      What crimes did Jamie Arnold commit?
      In August 2021 Jamie Arnold, 33, of Norton Bridge, near Stone, Staffordshire, was charged with causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
      The crime was committed during a match between Wolverhamption Wanderers and Manchester United on May 23, 2021.
      Arnold was also charged with making homophobic comments towards the referee.
      Rio was working as a pundit for BT Sport when Arnold racially abused the former Man Utd defender at Wolves’ home ground Molineux.
      READ MORE ON RIO FERDINAND
      Arnold’s attack happened at the first game where a reduced number of supporters were allowed in the ground following the easing of Covid restrictions.
      At a hearing in July 2021, Arnold pleaded not guilty.
      Rio was escorted by PC Stuart Ward — the UK’s first dedicated hate crime officer within the football unit — as he arrived at Wolverhampton Crown Court on August 26, 2021.
      Arnold was granted conditional bail after a 25-minute hearing.
      Most read in Football
      On November 1, 2023 Arnold was found unanimously guilty by a jury of racially abusing Ferdinand.
      Senior Crown Prosecutor Alistair Redford said: “Arnold made despicable racist gestures towards a victim who was just trying to do his job.
      “I would like to thank the stewards whose quick-thinking actions ensured they could identify and remove Arnold from the stadium that day, and for Mr Ferdinand and witnesses who came forward to help us build as strong a case as possible.”
      A spokesperson for anti-racism organisation Kick It Out said: “Kick It Out welcomes the guilty verdict handed to Arnold today.
      “It is imperative that perpetrators of discriminatory abuse are held to account for their actions and we hope this result sends a strong statement that racism has no place in our, or in society.
      “We commend the CPS and West Midlands Police for their work securing justice in this case and would urge authorities across the country to take similar incidents of discriminatory abuse just as seriously.
      “We continue to work with partners across football to tackle discriminatory abuse as it happens and to ensure that victims receive the support they need.
      “We would encourage anyone who witnesses discrimination of any sort in future to report it directly to us at Kick It Out.”
      Arnold will be sentenced on December 8, 2023.
      Has Rio Ferdinand spoken out about the crimes?
      At the time of the attack, Rio said: “The last couple weeks, it’s been unreal to see fans back.
      “However, to the Wolves fan who has just been thrown out… you need to be dismissed from football and educated.
      “Come meet me and I will help you understand what it feels like to be racially abused.”
      In response to Arnold being found guilty, Ferdinand said: “I’ve been involved in a Court case in Wolverhampton since May 2021.
      “Today [November 1, 2023] the guy who racially abused me has been found guilty and will now have to face consequences for his actions.
      “Racism will only be eradicated when we all work together as a society.
      Read more on The Sun
      “The prosecution wouldn’t have been possible without all the help/support from the witnesses, Wolverhampton fans and staff that came forward to testify in court.
      “Special thank you to Police Constable Stuart Ward [football hate crime officer], my Family and my team at New Era.” More

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      45 Polish football fans appear at special court over ‘worst riot in UK for 20 years’ at Aston Villa

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      FORTY-FIVE Polish football fans including a woman appeared in a special court yesterday over the Aston Villa riot.Thursday’s clashes outside the Birmingham stadium were the worst in the UK for 20 years.
      The clashes outside Aston Villa’s stadium were the worst in the UK for 20 yearsCredit: Reuters
      A total of 46 people aged between 21 and 63 were charged — but one did not attend.
      The others appeared in groups of up to five at separate hearings throughout the day.
      Police said 43 were charged with public order offences, two with assaulting police and another with possessing a knife.
      A district judge and several magistrates granted conditional bail to almost 30 of the accused at Birmingham crown court.
      READ MORE ON LEGIA RIOT
      They including a 22-year-old woman from Poland who pleaded not guilty to violent disorder.
      At one hearing the court was told “egregious, sustained and horrific” violence included bricks, bottles and a portable toilet being thrown at police.
      It is alleged that a police van was the target of an attempted fire attack.
      And a flare and a flaming flag were allegedly used to injure two officers.
      Most read in Football
      Police said five officers, two police dogs and two horses were injured after violence erupted when visiting supporters were not given tickets, as arranged, to enter Villa Park for the Europa Conference League clash which Legia Warsaw lost 2-1.
      Darius Buras, 57, of Birmingham, was one of the two accused of attacking police.
      He denied it and was bailed. Remanded defendants were ordered to ­reappear on January 5.
      Det Supt Jim Munro said: “To charge this number of people so soon after such a major disorder has taken a huge effort.” More

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      Police charge 46 men, including one for possessing a knife, over violent scenes outside Aston Villa’s with Legia Warsaw

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      POLICE have confirmed that 46 men have been charged after the violent scenes outside of Aston Villa’s clash with Legia Warsaw – including a man in possession of a knife.West Midlands Police announced yesterday that 46 Legia fans were in custody following Thursday’s serious disorder outside Villa Park at the Europa Conference League match.
      Violent scenes marred Aston Villa’s clash with Legia Warsaw on ThursdayCredit: Rex
      Cops were attacked by the visiting fans outside of the stadium
      Police have now confirmed 46 men have been chargedCredit: Rex
      Uefa have reported Legia to Uefa after the shocking scenesCredit: Rex
      Now a statement from the police has confirmed: “We’ve charged 46 men over Thursday night’s violence outside Villa Park.
      “Of those, 43 have been charged with a public order offence, while two have been charged with assaulting police officers and another has been charged with possession of a knife.
      “Those charged are aged between and 21 and 63, and around 40 are believed to be from Poland. A small number are believed to be UK residents.
      “All apart from one of the men is due in court today. He has been bailed to appear at a later date.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      “A special court has been set up at Birmingham magistrates and will begin hearing the cases this morning.”
      It continued: “We are continuing to review CCTV and body-worn video footage to identify further suspects in what was an appalling and violent public disorder.
      “It is now known five officers suffered minor injuries in the disorder.
      ASTON VILLA TROUBLE TIMELINEAccording to Villa the following timeline outlines Legia’s refusal to follow normal procedure.
      10:30am – Match Day meeting during which Legia failed to accept their ticket allocation and informed those in attendance they would not be able to confirm if they would until 2.30pm.
      2.30pm – Legia officials miss the first deadline to report back.
      3.00pm – Legia officials miss the second deadline to report back despite repeated calls to them.
      4.00pm – Legia officials finally confirm they wish to receive their ticket allocation, with a pick-up point arranged at the stadium.
      6.00pm – Villa hand over tickets to Legia to distribute among their fans.
      7.00pm – Police who have penned Legia fans into the Witton Lane car park, close to the Doug Ellis Stand they will occupy, begin to release fans.
      7.05pm – Legia Ultras orchestrate violence and try to storm through police lines to gain access for ticketless fans, four police officers are injured in the ensuing violence.
      8.00pm – The match kicks off – no Legia fans have been allowed into the away section.

      “Two of these were from West Midlands Police, two from West Mercia and one from Derbyshire. They are receiving support at this time.
      Most read in Football
      “Two dogs from West Midlands Police and two horses from Thames Valley were injured and are recovering.”
      Det Supt Jim Munro, who is overseeing the criminal investigation, said: “Our investigation is very much continuing and we’ll be reviewing footage and speaking to witnesses over the coming days.
      “To charge this number of people so soon after such a major disorder has taken a huge effort by staff who have been working around the clock.
      “We’ve had a number of messages of thanks from the club and fans who were present on Thursday night and saw the policing operation first hand, and we are really grateful for that support.”
      Villa have reported Legia Warsaw to Uefa following the shameful scenes of violence.
      Sources close to Uefa claim the Polish side’s fans face being banned from all future away games after the shameful incident.
      The chaos lasted over 90 minutes and was described by one cop as “the worst violence I’ve experienced in 28 years.”
      Police struggled to disperse the Legia Warsaw fansCredit: PA
      Two police dogs and two horses were injured in the violence scenesCredit: Reuters
      Mounted officers joined riot police and dog handlers to try and disperse around 2,000 Legia fans who had been penned into a nearby car park prior to kick-off.
      Four cops were injured in the disorder as they were attacked with flares, bricks, metal poles and tree branches.
      After Villa secured their place in the knockouts with a 2-1 win, Assistant Chief Constable Damian Barratt said: “This was appalling and completely unacceptable disorder.
      “What we saw was 90 minutes of planned violence, with one officer saying it was the worst he had seen in 28 years of policing.
      “Our officers bravely put themselves in harm’s way and I would like to commend each and every one of them for their efforts.
      “We are committed to charging and remanding any and all responsible for attacking our officers and endangering the public.
      “We had no issues with the home fans and would like to thank them and Aston Villa for their support and kind words last night and this morning.
      “The only issues inside the ground last night were from a small number of away fans who had managed to get into home areas.
      “We will be liaising with the club and footballing authorities in the coming days to discuss last night’s appalling scenes.”
      No away fans were allowed into Villa Park for the matchCredit: Getty
      Home fans were also kept inside the stadium during half timeCredit: Reuters
      Aston Villa went on to win the match 2-1 and secure a place in the knockoutsCredit: EPA
      Villa swiftly dismissed claims by some Polish media outlets that were trying to lay blame on them for failing to provide enough tickets to Legia fans.
      And they have contacted Uefa to report the unacceptable conduct of Legia Warsaw officials ahead of the high-risk tie.
      Visiting teams to Villa Park would usually receive 5 per cent of capacity, which amounts to around 2,600 tickets for away supporters.
      However, trouble flared during Legia’s last visit to England when they lost 3-1 to Leicester City in 2021 as 20 police officers were injured that night when Polish Ultras ran riot.
      In light of that, Villa agreed a revised figure of 1700 tickets with Legia officials nearly four weeks ago, with the full approval of Uefa.
      However, when Legia fans again fought with Dutch police during their recent tie in Alkmaar, Uefa banned their fans from their next away tie against Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia.
      At that point, the UK Safety Advisory Group – which passes safety certificates for major events – refused to sanction the full 1700 allocation and slashed it by almost 700 to 1002 tickets.
      That decision was completely out of Villa’s control and was ratified by Uefa.
      Villa claim Legia failed to convey that message to their fans immediately, which led to around 1,000 ticketless fans travelling to the UK.
      Furthermore, Villa have accused Legia of being obstructive during a Match Day meeting on the morning of the match.
      But Legia Warsaw released a statement earlier today blaming Aston Villa for the incident and claimed they did not listen to advice from them to ensure safety.
      And they also stated that the English club even escalated the already tense atmosphere by reducing the number of tickets for their fans.
      It read: “Regrettably, as a consequence of both actions and inactions by the Aston Villa F.C. club, unfavourable incidents unfolded.
      “In declining to embrace our constructive critiques and recommendations, the hosts bear full responsibility for the situation.”
      Legia also added that they are not responsible for people that have no official ties to their club, saying: “No club should bear accountability for the actions of unidentified individuals lacking match tickets.”
      At the customary meeting attended by representatives of both clubs, Uefa, broadcasters, security staff, police and emergency services, Legia stunned Villa representatives by refusing to confirm if they would accept the reduced ticket allocation.
      SunSport understands Legia representatives seemed determined to adopt and endorse their Ultras motto of: ‘Don’t leave anyone behind,’ and were reluctant to accept the reduced allocation.
      The police have confirmed that all apart from one of those arrested are due in court todayCredit: Reuters
      Uefa observers were present at the Witton Lane car park and witnessed the shocking scenes of violence which followed.
      They immediately launched an investigation into the shocking scenes but were quick to praise West Midlands Police and Villa for their handling of the explosive situation.
      It now appears certain Legia will face a lengthy ban from travelling to away fixtures after “off the scale violence,” erupted for the third time in recent away trips.
      At the height of the violence Villa raced to collect fire extinguishers from the stadium and nearby supporters hall and supplied police with them to try and douse the flames from hundreds of flares.
      At one flashpoint Legia thugs tried to overturn a police van which was blocking their route.
      Read More on The Sun
      SunSport understands some Legia fans arrived in the UK hell-bent on causing mayhem and spoiling for a fight with police or Villa fans. 
      We understand border police found Mixed Martial Arts mitts and gum shields in the luggage of some fans, who had clearly come prepared to battle. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo facing $1BILLION lawsuit in the USA over Binance cryptocurrency adverts

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is facing a lawsuit worth 1 BILLION DOLLARS after promoting Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.A filing in a US district court in Florida has alleged that the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid man, 38, “promoted, assisted in, and/or actively participated in the offer and sale of unregistered securities in co-ordination with Binance”.
      Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to enter a huge legal battleCredit: Reuters
      According to The Times, it has been claimed by the plaintiffs of the case that his endorsement of the company led to them making losses on their investments.
      Ronaldo’s representatives have been approached for comment.
      The Al-Nassr forward signed a multi-year deal with Binance last year to promote non-fungible tokens – also known as NFTs.
      These are virtual assets, used to prove ownership of an online picture or video, which can be purchased and sold.
      READ MORE ON CRISTIANO RONALDO
      Ronaldo and Binance collaborated to create an NFT collection in November 2022.
      The Portuguese icon claimed this would reward his loyal followers “for all the years of support”.
      Following the release of the NFTs, Ronaldo said: “It was important to me that we created something memorable and unique for my fans as they are such a big part of my success.
      “With Binance, I was able to make something that not only captures the passion of the game but rewards fans for all the years of support.”
      Most read in Football
      Earlier this month, Binance’s co-founded and chief executive, Changpeng Zhao, pled guilty to charges of money laundering.
      He will personally pay a 50 million dollar fine as part of a 4 BILLION dollar settlement between Binance and the justice department.
      Ronaldo has been living in Saudi Arabia since he joined Al-Nassr midway through the 2021/22 season when his Man Utd contract was terminated.
      He has scored 32 goals and provided 11 assists in 38 games since arriving in the Middle East. More

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      ‘Maddy Cusack’s spirit was broken by football’, mum of Sheffield United star says – as club launch probe into her death

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      MADDY Cusack’s spirit was “broken by football” the mum of the Sheffield United star has said, as the club begins an investigation into her death.Cusack,  27, died at her home address in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20.
      Maddy Cusack on the pitch in a game against Blackburn in August 2022Credit: Getty
      Her family say Sheffield United have launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding her deathCredit: Getty
      Derbyshire Police said at the time there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
      She was vice-captain of the Blades and the side’s longest serving player as well as their first to reach 100 appearances for the women’s team.
      A speech, read by her mum, Deborah, at a memorial service in October has now been published by her family, which has also been shared on the Maddy Cusack Foundation JustGiving page.
      The tribute said: “My beautiful daughter, Madeleine. The saddest and most utterly heart-breaking reason why I am having to stand here and speak to you today is because of football.
      Read More on Maddy Cusack
      “From February this year, the indomitable, irrepressible spirit, the spirit called Maddy, the spirit that we had so fiercely protected, was allowed to be broken, taking her away from me.”
      In an additional statement the family revealed Sheffield United have agreed to appoint a firm to carry out a probe into the events surrounding Maddy’s death.
      The statement said: “Those who knew Maddy well will be aware that she had no long-standing mental health issues or troubles.
      “Not that there would be anything to be ashamed of if there were, but there were not. Those that didn’t know her need to know that.
      Most read in Football
      “Maddy was a happy-go-lucky, care-free girl with everything to live for and last Christmas could be described as being at her happiest.
      “This all changed gradually from February this year.
      “It is no secret, nor should it be, that Sheffield United have agreed, at the request of Maddy’s family, to carry out a thorough external investigation into the events that her family believe contributed significantly to her passing at the tender age of 27.
      “The Maddy Cusack Foundation — Fierce, Determined and Spirited #MC8.”
      Cusack joined the club from Leicester in 2019 and also worked in the Blades’ commercial department as a marketing executive.
      An inquest was opened in October at Derby Coroner’s Court and adjourned, as a coroner awaits further details about the cause of her death.
      The hearing heard how it was Cusack’s devastated dad who identified her body.
      Assistant Coroner Louise Pinder told the short hearing Ms Cusack’s death was reported to Chesterfield Coroner’s Court by police on September 21.
      The hearing, which was only attended by members of the press, was also told her cause of death is yet to be ascertained.
      Ms Pinder added: “We are awaiting a police file and the medical cause of death, therefore I am adjourning the inquest for six weeks for further review then the inquest can be listed in due course.”
      Tributes poured in from across the world following the announcement of her death, which came as she entered a sixth season with her club – having signed a new deal in July.
      The club’s chief executive Stephen Bettis said in a tribute: “This is heart-breaking news for everyone at Bramall Lane.
      “Maddy had a unique position of being part of a number of teams at Sheffield United and was popular with everyone that she came into contact with.
      “Her personality and professionalism made her a credit to her family – she will be sadly missed.
      “While taking in the news and moving forward, the club will offer as much support as possible to Maddy’s family, friends and colleagues.”
      Deborah, Maddy’s mum has released a heartfelt tribute to her daughterCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
      Floral tributes were left outside the club at the time of Maddy’s deathCredit: Reuters More

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      I made £40,000 a WEEK as a Premier League star and captained my country at World Cup… now I can’t even afford a phone

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      A PREMIER league star was raking it in on £40,000 a week during his playing days but now can’t even afford a phone.In the mid 2000s Lucas Neill was a footballing hero as captain of West Ham and played in the 2006 World Cup.
      Lucas Neill played 79 games for West Ham and captained the sideCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Neill in action for West Ham against Spurs in April 2009Credit: Getty
      He was living the high life too, with a Ferrari in his garage and holidays in the Maldives.
      Nowadays, Neill, 45, lives a very different life having gone bankrupt and was recently facing three years behind bars as he stood trial for failing to declare money he never knew he had.
      He had been accused of concealing more than £2million from creditors.
      As he battled his financial problems the lights would often go out because he didn’t have the money to top up his pay-as-you-go meter.
      Read More on West Ham
      Last Monday though, a jury at Preston Crown Court took just 26 minutes to acquit him of the charges.
      Neill told The Times: “I’ve won my freedom, but I feel like I’ve lost in life.”
      During his financial hardship, his wife Lindsey Morris, a beauty therapist and personal trainer, became the breadwinner, as he only had his £900-a-month footballer’s pension.
      He blames himself completely for his financial ruin.
      Most read in Football
      Neill, who is a dad-of-two, said: “I feel like I didn’t protect my family… And that hurts. I let my family down.”
      The Professional Footballers’ Association has warned that between 10 to 20 per cent of professional players go bankrupt when they retire.
      Nell had been advised to pump vast sums of money into a scheme which gave the promise of investing in British films in return for a huge tax break.
      The scheme appeared to be legitimate and were pushed heavily by accountants and financial advisers and the government had championed the investment tax relief.
      But the taxman eventually came sniffing around and forced those who invested in them to repay the money they claimed, which in many cases totalled up to tens of thousands of pounds.
      Neill said: “People say they want to advise you. Help you. People just constantly want to take a tiny slice out of you. Telling you they’re going to add value to what they’re doing. That’s just a lesson for all footballers.”
      He added: “Do you need these professional financial advisers? I was very successful in the world of football, but I clearly wasn’t ready for this other world — the world of business. And I’ve learnt the hard way.”
      HMRC told him he owed £400,000 and he had to sell seven or eight properties, losing money on each one, to pay it back.
      He then defaulted on a NatWest loan he had taken out to pay for a barn near Newcastle, which was held in an offshore fund.
      Neill was left owing the bank £737,000 – and was declared bankrupt in 2016.
      He said: “People couldn’t believe it, but I had nothing left. That was my rock bottom.
      “After 20 years of a football career and all this hard work, I’ve got nothing to show for it.”
      During a meeting with the insolvency service he was meant to list all his assets, but forgot to mention the 144 acres of land he had bought around the barn.
      The insolvency service investigated Neill for seven years, so he was unable to own his own home, or even take out a mobile phone contract.
      When he went bankrupt, the repossessed 144 acres was sold for £3m by a lender and after the loan was settled, the remaining £2.1m was put into Neill’s offshore trust.
      Neill claims he never knew about this but the insolvency service accused him of hiding the money from his bankruptcy proceedings.
      Now he has been found not guilty he is starting to rebuild his life and he also wants to find out what happened to the offshore funds.
      His defence lawyer, Joseph Kotrie Monson, of Mary Monson Solicitors, said: “Why would somebody ever put their family through all the pressure of bankruptcy, if they knew they had enough money in a bank account to pay off the debt and still have a million left over?”
      He’s now coaching women and girls at a football club and working as a project manager for a local digital firm.
      Neill also captained his national side AustraliaCredit: AFP
      Having been acquitted of the charges, Neill, seen here in 2015, is now rebuilding his lifeCredit: Getty More

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      I was West Ham captain & had a Ferrari on the drive… now I live in rented flat and almost went to jail over bankruptcy

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      A FORMER West Ham captain who once had a Ferrari on his drive now lives in a rented flat – and almost went to jail over his bankruptcy.Lucas Neill used to earn £40,000 a week as the Hammers’ skipper between 2007 and 2009.
      Lucas Neill captained West Ham from 2007 and 2009Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The Aussie in action for the Irons in 2008Credit: Getty
      Neill played for Australia at the World CupCredit: AFP
      The Australian defender starred for the Socceroos at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
      At the height of his success he splashed out on a Ferrari and luxury holidays in the Maldives.
      But last week Neill appeared at Preston Crown Court charged with failing to declare money he never knew he had.
      The trial came after seven years of bankruptcy, with Neill facing three years in prison if convicted.
      Read More Football
      Neill has opened up about his financial ruin after a jury acquitted him in just 26 minutes.
      He told The Times: “Behind my chair in the dock were stairs going to the cells.
      “I’ve won my freedom, but I feel like I’ve lost in life.
      “I feel like I didn’t protect my family. And that hurts. I let my family down.”
      Most read in Football
      Neill was accused of hiding more than £2million from his creditors as his money problems spiralled out of control.
      The star ploughed huge sums into a scheme which he thought would see him get big tax breaks in return for investing in British films.
      But HMRC ordered him to pay back £400,000 after probing the dodgy scheme – which had been touted to footballers by financial advisers.
      Neill was forced to sell over seven properties, losing money on each one.
      He then defaulted on a NatWest loan he had taken out to pay for a barn near Newcastle, which was held in an offshore fund.
      Neill was left owing the bank £737,000 – and was declared bankrupt in 2016.
      He said: “People couldn’t believe it, but I had nothing left. That was my rock bottom.
      “After 20 years of a football career and all this hard work, I’ve got nothing to show for it.”
      Neill forgot to mention 144 acres of land he had bought around the barn when listing his assets for repossession.
      The Insolvency Service probed Neill for seven years, leaving him unable to own a house or even buy a mobile phone contract.
      One morning his kids answered the door to bailiffs demanding a £400 council tax bill.
      But Neill has now been found not guilty of hiding the offshore money.
      He is now coaching women and girls at a football club while working for a tech firm.
      His lawyer Joseph Kotrie Monson said: “Now it’s time for him to enjoy his restored reputation and get back into the world of sport and broadcasting.” More