Former footballer and manager Iain Dowie is facing possible bankruptcy after being taken to court by HM Revenue & Customs.
The 60-year-old, best known for coining the term “bouncebackability” during his managerial days at Crystal Palace, has been hit with a bankruptcy petition and is due to appear before the High Court in the coming weeks.
The case marks another difficult chapter in Dowie’s post-football life, almost two decades after a costly legal dispute with Crystal Palace left him with a substantial bill.
In 2007, a court ruled that he had misled the club into waiving a £1 million compensation clause when he left Selhurst Park to join Charlton Athletic.
A source familiar with the situation suggested that Dowie’s current financial troubles may stem from that long-running saga.
“It looks like Iain’s financial problems might date back to that legal action — there doesn’t seem to be any other reason for it,” the source told The Sun.
“It’s a shame for him because he’s such a likeable bloke. He hasn’t cashed in on punditry like some other ex-players could have, but Iain’s a bright man. If anyone can bounce back, it’s him.”
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Iain Dowie has pursued a career outside of football in recent years
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Dowie’s managerial career saw him take charge of several clubs, including Oldham Athletic, Crystal Palace, Charlton, Coventry City and Hull City.
His spell at Palace remains his most memorable, leading the team to Premier League promotion in 2004 and coining the now-famous “bouncebackability” phrase that later entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2005.
After his departure from football management, Dowie worked as a pundit for Sky Sports and later pursued a career outside the game.
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Iain Dowie worked wonders during his time as Crystal Palace manager
|PA
In 2023, he revealed that he had joined Alexander Grace Law, a Lancashire-based legal firm, as a business director overseeing its remortgaging division.
“While people may wonder how I’ve gone from the football pitch to the office, I’ve been working in the conveyancing arena for some four years now,” he said at the time.
“When I was asked if I would come on board, it was a no-brainer.” His wife, Debbie, was also employed by the same company.
Dowie, who made more than 380 league appearances and scored 105 goals during his playing career with clubs such as Luton Town, Southampton and West Ham, also represented Northern Ireland 59 times.
Known for his work ethic and intelligence both on and off the pitch, he was admired for his ability to rebuild teams and motivate players.
In 2023, Dowie revealed he had suffered a cardiac arrest during a spin class at a gym in Chorley, Lancashire, and credited the quick response of gym-goers and paramedics with saving his life.
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Iain Dowie pictured during his time as Hull City manager
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“I survived because of the brilliance of everyone involved,” he said at the time, later calling for greater awareness of CPR training.
Despite the looming financial challenge, those close to Dowie believe his resilience remains intact.
His career has long been defined by recovery and reinvention, from his playing days to management and beyond.
For a man who once turned “bouncebackability” into a part of the sporting lexicon, it is a quality he may now need once again.