Barnes bankruptcy overturned following tax error

Date: 27th October 2009

Former Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has had his bankruptcy order rescinded by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Reports had suggested last week that the player, now a media pundit and manager, had been declared insolvent by a Liverpool court.

However, this order was overturned last Friday (October 23rd).

It is believed that a failure to pay a tax bill led to the original bankruptcy order.

Mr Barnes, 45, must now pay HMRC by November 9th for the bankruptcy to be wiped entirely.

George Castro, the star's solicitor, said: John Barnes was not and is not insolvent and my client would like to thank the Official Receiver and the case workers at HMRC for helping to resolve this unfortunate situation as quickly as possible."

Mr Barnes was sacked as manager of Tranmere earlier this month and has previously managed the Jamaica national team.

His bankruptcy case will be heard at the High Court in London.