EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
Liverpool FC legend John Barnes: 'I'm not bust'Oct 22 2009 By Luke Traynor
FORMER Liverpool FC star John Barnes today denied being bust.
An unpaid tax bill saw Barnes – recently sacked as Tranmere Rovers boss – declared bankrupt at court earlier this month.
It happened just five days after his dismissal from Prenton Park.
But today Reds legend Barnes said he had forgotten to deal with a Revenue and Customs debt dating back to last year because of the strains of the job as Rovers manager.
The ex-Kop winger, 45, told the ECHO: "I had a petition for a tax bill which I can pay.
"They set a date for a hearing. But with everything going on at Tranmere I had other things on my mind – like eight defeats in 11 games.
"On October 14 the hearing went ahead. I immediately got in touch with the Inland Revenue and we are in the process for removing the bankruptcy and dealing with the tax bill.
"This matter will be dealt with, hopefully in the next week. I’m not bust.
"Everybody owes tax. It hasn’t spiralled. The bill relates to last year and they informed me about it four months ago.
"Recently Tranmere was the only thing I was focusing on. And I missed the court date."
Barnes declined to discuss the amount of debt.
And he rejected media reports claiming he had recently been earning £4,000 a week.
He added: "I would have loved that kind of money at Tranmere."
Barnes was said to be in Liverpool yesterday for a meeting with official receivers.
An Insolvency Service spokeswoman told the ECHO they would be working to "dispose of his assets and pay back his creditors".
At worst, financial restrictions can remain in place on an individual for up to 15 years.
HMRC have refused to confirm how much Barnes owes, and a spokesman added: "Due to taxpayer confidentiality we cannot discuss the tax affairs of any individual."
The sporting legend, who was last year manager of the Jamaican national side, lives in Heswall with his wife and children in a luxurious five-bedroomed property, currently up for sale for just under £650,000.
There are sizeable landscaped gardens and today a Lexus and BMW were parked on the driveway.
In court, on October 14, Barnes’ occupation was given as a provider of media services, lately a footballer.
The order was being posted online by fans and today.
Barnes appeared to be in some financial difficulty last year when he was convicted of driving without insurance. He avoided a substantial fine after stating he could not afford to employ a driver while working as Jamaican team boss.
A further insight into his money woes was revealed during a newspaper interview when he said: "I don't like dealing with taxes of course.
"I don't like dealing with bills and never have done. I let my wife Andrea deal with them. I don't even like opening them. A few times my credit card has been declined when I've been travelling abroad. Then I have to get creative about paying the bill and have to really root around."
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