Former Watford, Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has been given more time to clear a tax debt. A judge in a specialist court on Monday adjourned a hearing to allow “settlement negotiations” to taken place.
Judge Sally Barber considered the case at an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing in London. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officials have lodged a bankruptcy petition.
Megan Vanderhook, who represented HMRC at the hearing, indicated that Barnes owed at least £200,000 – and told the judge that he had repaid £100,000. She said an adjournment would allow “settlement negotiations” to take place. Judge Barber said the case would be reconsidered on May 22.