Former Welsh and Arsenal football star John Hartson claims that his personal fortune has been whittled away due to gambling and his bitter divorce. Despite earning thousands playing for some of the richest clubs in the Premiership, including Arsenal and West Ham, and also being a pundit on TV, the star says he doesn’t have as much money as some people believe.

Hartson stated:

I would like to have more money.

Yes I do have a nice house and I drive a nice car but I don’t have millions and millions of pounds in the bank.

In his divorce settlement in 2008 the former Welsh international had to pay his ex-wife £1.5 million up front, and 50% of any future earnings.

Hartson says he lost a lot of money during his career.

I did have a lot of money when I was younger… and I did enjoy gambling and even things like bingo.

I don’t gamble thousands of pounds now like I used to. You can gamble everything and lose everything so it was a very dark time for me.

Clive Bellmore