Former Premier League footballer Lee Clark has been declared bankrupt, putting his £2 million Jesmond mansion and other valuable assets at risk of being seized.
The 52-year-old former midfielder, who played for Newcastle United, Sunderland and Fulham during his career, could see his bank accounts and savings earmarked to pay unsecured creditors if the debt remains unaddressed.
A York-based finance company called One Stop Business petitioned for the bankruptcy.
When approached at his Newcastle home yesterday, Clark appeared unaware of the implications, telling the Mirror: "I have no idea. I have no comment to make I know nothing."
Lee Clark played for Newcastle
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The bankruptcy means all of Clark's assets could potentially be seized to settle his debts.
Despite the serious financial implications, Clark maintained he was completely unaware of the risks associated with bankruptcy proceedings.
His insistence that he had "no idea" about the potential consequences comes even though bankruptcy typically results in the seizure of assets to satisfy creditors.
The petition was filed by One Stop Business, a finance company based in York.
The firm's action against the former footballer means his substantial assets, including his Newcastle property, could be liquidated to address outstanding debts.
Clark's apparent lack of awareness about the bankruptcy process stands in stark contrast to the severity of his financial situation, which could see him lose his multi-million pound home and other valuable possessions.
Clark enjoyed a successful playing career, making 200 appearances for Newcastle United before transferring to Sunderland in 1997 for £2.5 million.
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Lee Clark claims to have had no idea that he has been declared bankrupt
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However, his time at Sunderland ended controversially after he wore a T-shirt bearing the slogan "Sad Mackem B*****d" at the 1999 FA Cup final, which infuriated supporters.
The incident made his position at the club untenable, and he subsequently moved to Fulham before a brief return to Newcastle. His playing career concluded in 2006.
Reflecting on the T-shirt incident last year, Clark said: "Of course, I've got regrets. It was like biting the hand that feeds you."
He explained that the photographs emerged weeks after the incident, sealing his fate at Sunderland.
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After retiring as a player, Clark transitioned into management, taking charge of Huddersfield, Birmingham City and Blackpool.
He also spent time coaching in Sudan and Oman during his managerial career.
His son Bobby has followed in his footballing footsteps, having played for Liverpool before joining Austrian club RB Salzburg.
Lee Clark went on to become a manager following his playing career
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Clark's financial troubles mirror those of another former footballer, Trevor Sinclair, who was also declared bankrupt last week.
Shaun Wright-Phillips has also had financial troubles while John Barnes has fallen into £1.5million in debt.
Speaking about the controversial T-shirt incident, Clark acknowledged that "there were no camera phones then, just the old disposable ones and a few cameras clicked and it came out a few weeks later."
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