Southampton FC

EX-FOOTIE star and manager Iain Dowie faces being made bankrupt after being taken to court by the taxman.

Cult hero Dowie, 60 – who coined the term “bouncebackability” – has been hit with the bankruptcy petition by HMRC with a hearing due at the High Court.

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It comes almost two decades after ex-Luton, Southampton and West Ham striker Dowie was clobbered with a huge legal bill after leaving Crystal Palace as manager.

A court ruled in 2007 that Dowie deceived Palace into waiving a £1 million compensation clause when he quit.

And a source said: “It looks like Iain’s financial problems might date back to that legal action – there doesn’t seem to be any other reason for it.

“It is a shame for him as he’s such a likeable bloke, but he hasn’t cashed in with punditry as much as some other ex-players and he probably could have done.

“But Iain is a bright bloke and I am sure he will bounce back.”

After leaving Palace, Dowie joined Charlton – but left the Addicks after just 15 games.

His contract contained a clause that Palace would receive £1 million in compensation if Dowie left to join another club.

The 59-cap Northern Ireland international worked as a sales manager and a Sky Sports pundit since his football career ended.

In 2023, Dowie told how he had landed a new position – as a mortgage advisor at a law firm.

He joined Alexander Grace Law, based near Burnley, as a business director leading its re-mortgaging team.

Dad of two Dowie, whose wife Debbie was also working for the company, said: “While people may wonder how I’ve gone from the football pitch to the office I have been working within the conveyancing arena for some four years now and when I was asked if I would come on board with them it was a no-brainer.”

Last year Dowie – who scored 105 goals in 388 league games – said he was lucky to be alive after suffering cardiac arrest during a spin class at a gym in Chorley, Lancs.

After he was treated by other gym-goers and paramedics, Dowie backed calls for more people to learn CPR and said he survived due to the “brilliance of everyone involved”.

Dowie famously used the word “boucebackability” to describe a Crystal Palace comeback and it entered the Oxford dictionary in 2005.

A spokesperson for the star did not respond to a request for comment.

JEFF STELLING has been torn apart by former Southampton and Wolves boss Dave Jones over an infamous Sky Sports tirade.

The long-serving ex-Soccer Saturday host let rip at Jones and demanded his resignation during a live TV broadcast in 2017.

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Jones had just led Stelling’s beloved Hartlepool United to a 2-0 defeat at home to Barnet which plunged them further into relegation danger.

A furious Stelling ranted: “This is not personal but Dave Jones, for god’s sake, for the good of the club, walk now.

“Go now. This is not your level of football. If he won’t walk, sack him.

“If it means me resigning as president, I’ll do so happily. Do it now, do it today.”

Jones was dismissed shortly afterwards but Hartlepool still dropped out of the Football League weeks later.

The 69-year-old, who also had spells with Stockport, Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday, kept quiet about Stelling‘s outburst for years.

But he has now broken his silence in spectacular fashion.

Jones told Under The Cosh: “I wouldn’t p*** on him if he was on fire. I’d just walk away from him. Got no time for him.

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“I think it was totally wrong, what he did. I don’t think there was one person who agreed with him. They just thought it was a disgrace.

“He doesn’t mean anything to me. He’s got a show but to do what? Not to criticise other people.

“We can all criticise him when he was mumbling or didn’t do this or do that but what’s the point? I’m bigger than that.

“Put it this way, if we were in the desert and I drove past him, I wouldn’t pick him up.”

Stelling, who left Sky Sports in 2023, admitted that he may have ‘gone too far’ in berating Jones.

He told The Times: “I should have stopped when I said, ‘Please walk away Dave’, and not gone any further.”

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EFL fans have been left baffled over Portsmouth’s goalkeeper substitution.

Keeper Nicolas Schmid was forced off after suffering a first half injury.

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And he was replaced by deputy Ben Killip, with the pair sharing an embrace as they switched over.

It was an eye-cathcing sub as Schmid and Killip bore a striking similarity with one another.

They both have curly blond hair and beards, prompting confusion for viewers at home.

One reacted saying: “I swear Portsmouth just bought on a stunt double for their keeper. Absolute doppelganger.”

Another added: “Should have just swapped them at half time without anyone knowing.”

A third wrote: “Bit unfair cloning your starting GK, Pompey.”

And another commented: “Had me questioning my sanity.”

The incident took place during Portsmouth’s 0-0 draw with Southampton in the South Coast derby.

Shortly afterwards the match was interrupted by a pitch invader, who made it as far as the halfway line and appeared to gesture towards the away fans.

Saints also aimed a cheeky dig at their rivals by unveiling a provocative tifo before the match, showing James Beattie celebrating a goal against Pompey in 2003.

TOM CLEVERLEY is reportedly in talks with a Premier League club just days after being sacked by Watford.

The former Manchester United star was axed by the Hornets earlier this month after missing out on the Championship playoffs.

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Cleverley, 35, took over at Vicarage Road in March 2024 as he replaced Valerien Ismael.

But he could be set for a quick return to the dugout with Southampton interested.

The Guardian have claimed that he is one of the leading candidates to take over at St Mary’s next season.

It is suggested that he has a “strong chance” of being appointed as the new Saints boss.

Cleverley has taken charge of 59 first-team games, winning 20, drawing 14 and losing 25.

The Southampton team is currently playing under caretaker Simon Rusk, who took charge after the sacking of Ivan Juric.

They are a top-flight club for two more games, which come against Everton and Southampton.

Juric was only in charge for 14 Premier League games after replacing Russell Martin.

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Cleverley does face competition for the job from fellow Englishman Will Still.

Still has left Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens following the end of the season in order to move back to England.

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The manager wants to spend more time with his Sky Sports presenter partner Emma Saunders.

His exit came just one season into a three-year deal.

Reports have claimed that Still is in “advanced talks” with Southampton over the vacant manager role.

In his final game, Lens beat AS Monaco 4-0 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Neil El Aynaoui netted twice while Adrien Thomasson and Anass Zaroury wrapped up the scoring.

The victory sealed an 8th-placed finish in the Ligue 1 table.

Still has also had interest from Hull City and has previously turned down Rangers.

Sheffield Wednesday‘s Danny Rohl is also believed to be in the running for the job.

Meanwhile, Watford have already replaced Cleverley with former Real Valladolid boss Paulo Pezzolano.

The Uruguayan becomes the 22nd manager to take charge of the Hornets since Gino Pozzo’s takeover in 2012.