Former Reggae Boyz coach and England Legend John Barnes has been declared bankrupt. 

The 61 year old saw his now-liquidated company John Barnes media limited, ran up debts of £1.5 million pounds.

The bankruptcy notice was published in the london gazette after a petition was filed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in early August.

The most recent liquidators’ report showed the former Liverpool midfielder owed HMRC more than 776 thousand pounds in unpaid taxes

He also owed unsecured creditors over 461 thousand pounds,  a directors loan worth 226,thousand pounds and liquidators’ costs of just over 56 thousand pounds

Barnes has spent the last eight years repaying HM Revenue & Customs, but it emerged last month that he was facing a new bankruptcy threat.

Appearing on the all things business podcast, barnes spoke about the genesis of his problems including investing in a ponzi scheme in Jamaica. 

Barnes hung up his boots in 1999 following a glittering career with Watford, Liverpool, Newcastle, Charlton and England.

He subsequently went into management with Tranmere Rovers, Celtic and Jamaica, while he has also worked as a pundit and released a book in 2021.