Former Newcastle star quits UK to start new life abroad after being declared bankrupt

Former Newcastle United star Danny Guthrie has secured a new role in football, three years after being declared bankrupt. The 38-year-old made 104 appearances for the Magpies during his four-year tenure at the club.

Ex-Premier League midfielder Guthrie began his career at Liverpool, making seven first team appearances for the Reds before moving to Newcastle for £2.5million in 2008. The midfielder was a key part of the Newcastle squad that clinched promotion back to the Premier League in 2010, featuring 38 times during the club's title-winning season. After departing St James' Park, Guthrie had stints at Reading, Blackburn Rovers and overseas before hanging up his boots in 2021. The following year, Guthrie, then aged 35, was declared bankrupt due to £120,000 in gambling debts.

The BBC reported that Guthrie had borrowed £75,000 from a friend in May 2019 and promised to repay the money after selling a property. However, Guthrie had already accumulated his gambling debts.

When a house was sold for £160,000 in 2020, Guthrie chose to settle his gambling debts instead of other creditors. Consequently, the former Premier League player accepted a six-year bankruptcy order until May 2028.

Following the verdict, Insolvency Service official receiver Kevin Read said: "Danny Guthrie's actions were deliberate in dissipating assets, at a time he was already insolvent, and to the loss of his creditors. This extension of bankruptcy restrictions should serve as a warning that the Insolvency Service will take action to tackle such financial wrongdoing."

Despite this setback, three years after being declared bankrupt, Guthrie is making a fresh start in Dubai. Recently, he was appointed as the technical director of the Al Hadha Football Academy, based in the United Arab Emirates.

Upon his appointment earlier this month, Guthrie shared his excitement: "I'm delighted to have joined Al Hadha to share my experience and my knowledge with the next generation.

"I feel that is my duty and I can't wait to get started. The academy has huge ambitions and I'm really, really proud to be a part of it."

At the time of his bankruptcy declaration, Guthrie's last known residence was listed in Dubai. Prior to his new role at Al Hadha, Guthrie had been providing private football coaching through his initiative, The Overachievers' Club.

Speaking about The Overachievers' Club during a media appearance shared on his social media, Guthrie explained: "To me, an overachiever is someone who has the desire and the willingness to outperform, outwork everyone else consistently. To do that, I have to have an environment for these players and encourage them to develop as a player, develop as a person.

"To do that, I have to set a culture of high standards, hard work and a clear picture of how they can improve as a player and as a person, and that caters for everyone. It's not just people who are of a high level or have bigger dreams than other people."

In September, Guthrie was also unveiled as one of the coaches at IFG Phoenix City, which has also appointed former Newcastle defender Danny Simpson in a coaching capacity. The club's website describes it as the "UAE's first football education programme", providing an opportunity to compete at a club in the country's football pyramid whilst pursuing a UK degree.