Bankrupt ex-Premier League star living at £2m mansion has 'no idea' about order

Bankrupt ex-Premier League star living at £2m mansion has 'no idea' about order
Former Premier League footballer Lee Clark, who played for both Newcastle United and Sunderland, has been declared bankrupt over a debt to a business finance firm, according to court documents
Former top-flight star Lee Clark has been declared bankrupt
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images )
Former Premier League footballer Lee Clark has been declared bankrupt due to a debt owed to a business finance firm. The 52-year-old, who played for Newcastle United, Sunderland and Fulham, claimed he was unaware of the bankruptcy order issued against him this week.
The notice appeared in the London Gazette on behalf of petitioning creditor One Stop Business Finance in York. The verdict means all assets owned by the ex-midfield talent will be under the Insolvency Service's jurisdiction.
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Should Clark fail to settle the debt, his bank accounts, savings, and other significant possessions may be liquidated to settle the balance. Speaking to The Mirror, he said he was oblivious to the bankruptcy ruling while staying at his £2m Jesmond residence in Newcastle.
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Confronted about his bankruptcy, he said "I have no idea" before retreating back into his house. During another attempt to speak to him, he added: "I have no comment to make. I know nothing. Don't keep pressing the buzzer."
Clark, 52, made more than 200 appearances across two spells with Newcastle and secured promotions to the Premier League with both Fulham and Sunderland. With more than 400 top-flight matches to his name, he also played for England's under-21 squad.
He embarked on his professional journey at Newcastle and was an integral part of Kevin Keegan's 'Entertainers' throughout the 1990s. However, his transfer to Sunderland in 1997 for a conspicuously large sum of £2.5million caused quite a stir.
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Clark had little to say about the bankruptcy order when confronted outside his home
(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror )
More controversy followed during his spell with the Black Cats, led by manager Peter Reid. And the most infamous stemmed from the former pro taking aim at his own fans.
He was seen donning a T-shirt with an offensive slogan about 'Sad Mackem B******s' during the 1999 FA Cup final. Following that incident, he never played for the club again and transferred to Fulham before making a brief comeback at Newcastle.
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After hanging up his boots in 2006, Clark took on managerial roles at Huddersfield, Birmingham City and Blackpool, as well as coaching stints in Sudan and Oman. His son, Bobby, has been on the books at Liverpool and later moved to RB Salzburg.
Clark enjoyed popularity and high regard as a player at Sunderland and was part of the squad that clinched promotion from the old Division One in the 1998/99 season, even captaining the side occasionally. He has also been active as a TV and radio pundit in recent years.
Clark is a big advocate for football in the northeast
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle )
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For all their past disputes, Clark doesn't hold any ill will towards Sunderland today. When asked by former Sunderland striker Ally McCoist on talkSPORT if he wished for Sunderland to triumph in the play-off final, he showed nothing but support.
He asked: "Do you know what, Ally? I've said this all the time, and my pals will tell you this, whoever spoke to us, I want Sunderland in the Premier League. I want the derby games back.
"I would love Middlesbrough in the Premier League. I want the North East clubs back. Let's get North East football back on the map."

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