Lee Hendrie declared bankrupt after owing 200k pounds in debts

London, Jan 29 (ANI): Former Premier League footballer Lee Hendrie, who used to earn 24,000 pounds-a-week when he was still playing, has been declared bankrupt after racking up debts of almost 200,000 pounds.

The ex England international midfielder, who did not attend the hearing at the High Court in central London, failed to pay his debts, resulting in HM Revenue and Customs lodging the bankruptcy petition.

The court heard how there had been "no contact" with tax officials, and Hendrie had failed to answer letters since the petition was lodged on December 19 last year.

Hendrie, 34, who once earned 24,000 pounds-a-week as a Premiership footballer with Aston Villa, is believed to be trying to sell his 1.7 million-pound mansion, Finwood Lawn, in Rowington, Warwickshire.

Hendrie, the son of Scottish former professional footballer Paul Hendrie, is currently playing non-league football for Conference team Kidderminster Harriers.

Recorder Derrett said she was making the bankruptcy order "in the absence of any contact" with Hendrie.

The hearing was told Hendrie had debts of 193,808.73 pounds and a judgement debt in excess of 42,000 pounds.

Reacting to the news, former Aston Villa chairman Sir Doug Ellis commented on the footballer's lifestyle.

"He loved the high life - and loved to spend his money," the Daily Mail quoted Ellis as telling the Birmingham Mail.

"I have many great memories of his time in a Villa shirt.

"But he was a nice lad who played hard on the pitch and played hard off it, he said.

Ellis further added that Hendrie must have been given "bad advice" and that he had bought property when prices were at their highest.

Henrie bought six-bedroom mansion Finwood Lawn for 1.6 million pounds in 2006 and also owns Dickens Hill in Solihull, West Midlands, thought to be worth 1 million pounds. (ANI)