Ex-Australia captain Neill bankrupt in Britain

Sydney (AFP) – Former Australian captain Lucas Neill, who spent 15 years at top English clubs, has declared bankruptcy in Britain with administrators appointed to investigate his affairs, it emerged on Monday.

London-based insolvency experts Begbies Traynor were appointed trustees to the case last week, they said in a statement.

The company’s head of creditor services Dale Hernon said the 38-year-old former Everton, West Ham and Blackburn defender, who played 96 times for his country, was declared bankrupt in January.

“Mr. Neill is due to be interviewed when he returns to the UK in the coming weeks, at which point the trustees will be able to obtain the background information required to determine the full scale of Mr. Neill’s debts,” he said.

“At this early stage of proceedings, it is currently unclear to what extent any funds will be recovered.”

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said it was estimated he earned close to Aus$40 million (US$30 million) during his career in England. He reportedly invested in property in both Australia and the United States.

Neill, who made his international debut in 1996, led Australia 60 times but was left out of the Socceroos’ 2014 World Cup squad, spelling the end of his international career.

As well as England, he had stints with clubs in Turkey, the Middle East and Japan.