Tragic, what a state to get in ?!

[Ashdown]

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/former-coventry-city-fc-player-9408203

 

[Grendel]

Interesting to see that he was on £60k a year at his peak. Shows the absurd salary hikes in 20 years.

 

[Otis]

Such a shame.

Hope he gets the help he needs.

 

[Nick]

Can't help but wonder just how staged those photos are.

 

[rupert_bear]

Can't help but wonder just how staged those photos are.

Yes i wonder too, looks a little bit too smart and tidy doesn't he, however this type of story will keep recurring whether it be booze or gambling, young men with mega money burning holes in their pockets and with oodles of time on their hands and the inevitable hangers on.I did hear some years back of a young City starlet going through £80000 at Cheltenham races, okay that might be the equivilant of me losing £800 but what else has he squandered on gambling.

 

[Bumberclart]

He lived in a rented house near Bidford during his time at City. I did hear that he was in financial trouble then. Used to see him in the bookies in Evesham occasionally.

 

[fernandopartridge]

I've got his autobiography on my ereader, not read it yet. I hope he gets himself sorted.

 

[RegTheDonk]

Can't help but wonder just how staged those photos are.

Haven't read the Sunday Mirror article, but agree with you.

Perhaps they got wind he was booked into this clinic, tracked him down (or he contacted them?), paid him a few quid for his story and asked him to pose for a few shots to go with the report.

On first glance you'd think some pap got lucky. If not, that should be explained...staged to deceive is wrong .... poetic licence to help explain the story (*cough sell papers) .... hmmmm.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

It would be nice to think that the paper has held back any fee for when he hopefully get's sorted as if they pay him now what will he do with it?

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Interesting to see that he was on £60k a year at his peak. Shows the absurd salary hikes in 20 years.

You are right there are a lot of average footballers getting twice that a week now the game has gone mad and some who get more than 60k per day.

 

[Nick]

On first glance you'd think some pap got lucky. If not, that should be explained...staged to deceive is wrong .... poetic licence to help explain the story (*cough sell papers) .... hmmmm.

He's wearing the same clothes (also very clean) as from the picture of him to go with the interview.

They either found him lying down and interviewed him, or they did the interview and then staged him lying in the park for photos.

 

[richnrg]

perhaps they interviewed him and then bought him a few bottles as a reward

 

[Hobo]

perhaps they interviewed him and then bought him a few bottles as a reward

With the state of our national press you are probably right. Let's hope he can get the help he needs and get sorted.

 

[Astute]

So sad. A relative of mine had the same problem from being an adult. He was a millionaire but lost his business through drink. He got off the drink and made his money again. But then had a relapse. Started to put drink before work again. It finally got him a couple of years ago. He died at 52. It is hard to believe how someone so intelligent can fall to the demon drink.

 

[Covstu]

So sad. A relative of mine had the same problem from being an adult. He was a millionaire but lost his business through drink. He got off the drink and made his money again. But then had a relapse. Started to put drink before work again. It finally got him a couple of years ago. He died at 52. It is hard to believe how someone so intelligent can fall to the demon drink.

Know a friend who lost his house, wife and kids through drink. Not a good place to be.

 

[covcity4life]

good luck to him if he really wants to sort himself out. needs to be wrong

it is not a disease, its a life choice,an addiction. only he can sort it out.

 

[ohitsaidwalker king power]

He's wearing the same clothes (also very clean) as from the picture of him to go with the interview.

They either found him lying down and interviewed him, or they did the interview and then staged him lying in the park for photos.

I cant help but ponder your cynicism Nick.... staged or not, how low must one individual be to enter into such a pact, that fact alone warrants a little compassion and less cynicism doesn't it?

 

[Grendel]

I cant help but ponder your cynicism Nick.... staged or not, how low must one individual be to enter into such a pact, that fact alone warrants a little compassion and less cynicism doesn't it?

He's stating a view its staged - he's not said he's unsympathetic.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

staged or not, how low must one individual be to enter into such a pact, that fact alone warrants a little compassion and less cynicism doesn't it?

Yup, and a couple of frightening things it's easy to forget in the modern age of footballers on crazy salaries.

£60k pa at his peak not a bad salary, but not supremely OTT. Think about how many players not at the top of the game like he was, who'd have been earning so much less. Makes you wonder how many less high profile cases struggle along and we never know.

OK, he's expected to get a career after retiring from footy, but his PFA pension's nothing really, half what's considered a low salary in this country.

Scary that one of the best players of his generation can be left high and dry... regardless of any demons he then has on top of that.

 

[Macca]

He will get better when he is ready for himself not for others

 

[Astute]

Yup, and a couple of frightening things it's easy to forget in the modern age of footballers on crazy salaries.

£60k pa at his peak not a bad salary, but not supremely OTT. Think about how many players not at the top of the game like he was, who'd have been earning so much less. Makes you wonder how many less high profile cases struggle along and we never know.

OK, he's expected to get a career after retiring from footy, but his PFA pension's nothing really, half what's considered a low salary in this country.

Scary that one of the best players of his generation can be left high and dry... regardless of any demons he then has on top of that.

IIRC it is said that about 40% of players go bankrupt after retiring. They get so used to the easy big money and spending it. They have the wife that spends it with them. Then there is the hangers on. Some even get badly ripped off. And they keep spending when the money stops coming in. I suppose that those that were on big money at an early age don't remember or know what it is like to be skint. They see money in the bank so spend it until it is gone. Then reality hits home. It even happens to the real big names. How much was Gazza on? The wife was watching a bailiffs program where one of the debts was against Razor Ruddock. He was skint whilst working on TV. His foul mouthed wife was a disgrace. I wonder where his money went......

 

[Jack Griffin]

McIndoe investments, coming to a penthouse near you!

 

[Nick]

I cant help but ponder your cynicism Nick.... staged or not, how low must one individual be to enter into such a pact, that fact alone warrants a little compassion and less cynicism doesn't it?

I haven't said I wish it on anybody or that he isnt in a bad place, just that the photos are a bit staged and his clothes are a bit clean for somebody.sleeping in a park.

 

[skybluetony176]

I haven't said I wish it on anybody or that he isnt in a bad place, just that the photos are a bit staged and his clothes are a bit clean for somebody.sleeping in a park.

Yeah, he's faking it. Bloody attention seeker.

 

[skybluetony176]

Yeah, he's faking it. Bloody attention seeker.

That's sarcasm by the way.

 

[ohitsaidwalker king power]

I haven't said I wish it on anybody or that he isnt in a bad place, just that the photos are a bit staged and his clothes are a bit clean for somebody.sleeping in a park.

I wasn't suggesting you were...my point is....to stoop so low...to seek attention in such a way....isn't that low enough.?..without the need for cynical views such as you expressed compounding this oh so sad situation.?