Colin Hendry and his late
wife Denise. The former Scottish international footballer has run
up huge gambling debts
Colin Hendry faces financial ruin over massive internet
gambling debts, it emerged on Thursday. The former
international footballer and ex-Blackburn player is to suffer fresh
anguish after the death of his wife from complications caused by
botched plastic surgery.
Spreadex, an online sports betting firm, has filed a bankruptcy
petition against the former Scotland World Cup captain at Blackpool
County Court. He is understood to owe the company £35,000.
Yesterday the extent of Hendry's financial freefall was revealed
- as he was forced to accept an undisclosed bid for his £1.7million
Georgian home on the seafront at Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.
It is understood there is an outstanding re-mortgage debt of
nearly £1million on the house, which he bought outright for
£750,000 in 2001.
Hendry's legal advisers hinted the taxman was 'circling' for an
Inland Revenue bill which friends estimate may be as high as
£800,000.
Hector McFarlane (far
left) at the funeral of Denise Hendry last year
And Blackburn County Court has ordered him to pay more
than £90,000 to his former friend and neighbour, businessman Hector
McFarlane.
Hendry does not dispute that he owes Mr McFarlane, 61, the money
and accepts the debt. But it was the legal dispute over the
original loan of £85,000 that revealed Hendry's financial 'house of
cards'.
He has been sinking in a sea of debt since the tragic death last
year of his wife Denise, 44. The mother of four had suffered
serious ill health since 2002 after a botched 'tummy tuck'
operation.
She underwent a series of operations but died from a brain
infection.
Until yesterday, Hendry's friends claimed he had been left
penniless because his devotion to his wife had prevented him from
working.
'It is so easy running up a gambling account when you are big
name or putting on bets via the internet.
It is understood Spreadex launched the bankruptcy action,
scheduled for April 6, after Mr Hendry defaulted on an arrangement
to pay off his debt with them.
Colin Hendry on
international duty before his retirement. He is said to bet heavily
on football
Speaking from Thailand, where he is staying with wife
Williamina, 59, Mr McFarlane said: 'My wife and I will probably get
about 3 per cent - the average payout for creditors in
bankruptcy - of money we had saved for our retirement.
'The big question is where did his money go? He earned all that
money as a player and then got £300,000 in compensation for what
happened to Denise.
'Colin also took my money and I know that he borrowed from
others.'
Hendry declined to comment.