• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Former Premier League star who earned £40,000 a week now 'can't afford phone' after bankruptcy

Home> Football> Football News

Updated 14:16 26 Nov 2023 GMTPublished 14:12 26 Nov 2023 GMT

Former Premier League star who earned £40,000 a week now 'can't afford phone' after bankruptcy

He has avoided jail after being declared bankrupt.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

A former Premier League star who once earned £40,000 each week has admitted he has been unable to take out a phone contract after being declared bankrupt.

Former West Ham captain Lucas Neill is a recognisable figure to English football fans having spent the majority of his professional career in the Premier League.

In total, he made 279 appearances in the top flight of English football, playing for Blackburn Rovers, West Ham and Everton.

Advert

He later enjoyed spells at Turkish giants Galatasaray and UAE clubs Al Jazira and Al Wasl before retiring in 2014 after a short spell at Watford.

At the height of his career as West Ham captain, Neill earned £40,000 each week and drove a Ferrari.

But he is now being forced to live in rented accommodation after losing his fortune, The Sunday Times has reported.

Neill has now opened up on the nightmare financial and legal battle that saw him facing three years in jail over allegations he hid money from creditors after being declared bankrupt.

Last week, a jury at Preston Crown Court took 26 minutes to acquit him of the charges.

Advert

"Behind my chair in the dock were stairs going to the cells," he told The Sunday Times.

Neil said his "rock bottom" came when he had to attend a meeting with an insolvency service in 2016.

"It was the realisation that after 20 years of a football career and all this hard work, I've got nothing to show for it," he said.

"I feel like I didn't protect my family… and that hurts. I let my family down."

Advert

Lucas Neill played for Blackburn, West Ham and Everton (Image: Getty)
Lucas Neill played for Blackburn, West Ham and Everton (Image: Getty)

Due to the insolvency service's prolonged investigation into Neill, he was left bankrupt for seven years – preventing him from owning his own home, or even taking out a mobile phone contract.

"There were some really humiliating moments," he added.

"Like at 7.55am on a school morning, my kids answer the door to bailiffs trying to claim a council tax bill for £400."

Advert

Neill is now rebuilding his life, coaching women and girls football and working as a project manager for a local digital firm.

"I don't care about fame, or luxury. I just want to survive with my family and that's it. We have our own definition of happiness," he said.

"It might not be your definition, but it's mine. Would we be happier with more choice? Of course, but we don't complain. We've got each other."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Football, Premier League, Blackburn Rovers, Everton, West Ham United

Rory O'Callaghan
Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

X

@rory_ocallaghan

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Paul Scholes Says He’s Got a ‘New Favourite Footballer’ After Watching Newcastle vs Barcelona

    The former Manchester United midfielder was massively impressed.

    Football
  • CBS Sports
    an hour ago

    Thierry Henry Names His Clear Ballon d’Or Winner Without Hesitation

    Thierry Henry believes there is just one contender for the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Man Utd's 'Bomb Squad' React to Marcus Rashford's Performance vs Newcastle

    Rashford netted a memorable brace for Hansi Flick's side.

    Football
  • Getty
    4 hours ago

    Lionel Messi’s Huge Earnings At Inter Miami Show Why He Left PSG

    The football legend left the Ligue 1 champions to join Inter Miami in 2023.

    Football
  • Premier League star at risk of being BANNED FOR LIFE following investigation
  • Wayne Rooney could be offered shock return to management at former Premier League club
  • Premier League release statement on controversial penalty given to West Ham against Man Utd
  • Former Premier League cult hero who scored Champions League hat-trick against Barcelona now living very different life after retirement