**Liverpool Legend John Barnes Facing Mounting Financial Woes: Court Documents Reveal £1.5 Million Debt**
Former Liverpool winger John Barnes, once a celebrated figure on the football field, is now caught in a web of financial difficulties, with newly revealed court documents showing debts nearing £1.5 million associated with his collapsed media company. Details released by liquidators outline severe liabilities to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and other creditors, painting a troubling picture of the football icon’s post-playing career.
The breakdown of the debt paints a stark image. Barnes reportedly owes nearly £777,000 in unpaid VAT, National Insurance, and PAYE. In addition, unsecured creditors are owed just over £461,000, while a director’s loan accounts for a further £226,000. The costs of the liquidation itself amount to an additional £56,500. Despite agreeing to repay the director’s loan in instalments, and having settled £60,000 so far, liquidators state that only a “small distribution” will be made towards the substantial tax debt, leaving “no funds” to reimburse unsecured creditors.
John Barnes Media Limited, the vehicle for Barnes’ post-football ventures, was officially placed into liquidation last year. The main trigger was a failure to meet tax obligations, echoing a familiar pattern seen in the fall of other celebrity businesses. The situation escalated following a probe by the Insolvency Service that commenced in autumn 2023. Findings from the official inquiry revealed the firm had failed to pay over £78,000 in corporation tax between 2018 and early 2020, alongside an even larger sum of over £115,000 in unpaid VAT.
During this turbulent period, the company’s turnover stood at just over £440,000 – a figure that, on paper at least, should have supported healthy tax receipts. However, the tax duties outlined in the company’s returns did not result in any actual payments, deepening the firm’s woes.
As a direct consequence, Barnes was disqualified from serving as a company director for three and a half years, with the ban commencing in April 2024. Under the terms of this restriction, he is prohibited from participating in the formation or management of any company unless granted explicit permission by a court.
Mike Smith, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, offered a pointed commentary at the time the ban was announced, emphasising the wider implications of high-profile tax defaults. “Individuals and businesses not paying the tax they should deprive the government of crucial funding for public services and investments – in everything from schools to hospitals and vital infrastructure,” Smith noted. He underscored that Barnes’ firm “paid no tax whatsoever between November 2018 and October 2020” despite boasting significant income during that period.
Smith further noted that this episode should serve as a powerful deterrent to other company directors. “If you do not pay your taxes while directing money elsewhere, you risk being banned,” he warned.
Barnes, who featured 79 times for England and enjoyed a distinguished club career at Liverpool, Watford, and Newcastle United, founded his media company in 2012. He acted as its lone director throughout its existence. This is not the first time the former footballer has faced financial turmoil. Reports indicate that Barnes has been the subject of six bankruptcy petitions since 2010, suggesting ongoing struggles to manage his post-football earnings and affairs.
Efforts to seek comment from Barnes at his Wirral residence were unsuccessful, as the former player declined to respond to media inquiries about the latest developments.
Notably, Barnes has previously spoken about his discomfort with financial management. In a candid 2009 interview, he admitted: “I don’t like dealing with taxes. I just hate not having enough money. Apart from that, 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.”
This latest chapter in Barnes’ life is a sobering reminder of how financial problems can ensnare even the most prominent sporting names. The case continues to attract public interest, fuelled by his former hero status both at Anfield and on the international stage. The outcome of this liquidation and the deficit left behind may have long-lasting implications for the footballer and his standing within the business community.