Ex-Scotland striker Darren Jackson bankrupt with debts of £270,000

Former Scotland striker Darren Jackson has been approved by the Accountant In Bankruptcy with debts of £270,000.

Jackson applied to Scotland’s insolvency service for his own bankruptcy claiming he is the latest footballing “victim” of a controversial film partnership scheme that allowed investors to benefit from tax breaks.

Jackson, who played from Celtic, Dundee United and Hibernian, was declared bankrupt on December 17.

According to the Register of Insolvencies he owes £270,000.

Jackson, 49, was sacked from his role as Dundee United coach along with manager Jackie McNamara in September.

Control of his assets will now be passed to Edinburgh-based firm Cowan and Partners, who will try to recover the cash owed to creditors.

It is understood the majority of his debt arose from investments made in a film production scheme and is money owed to HM Revenue and Customs.

He now joins a list of famous names such as Rio Ferdinand, Andy Cole, Robbie Savage, Martin Keown and Danny Murphy, who have lost fortunes in the schemes and face having to sell off assets or have been made bankrupt.

Film partnership schemes potentially allow investors to benefit from tax breaks designed to support the film industry.

Jackson’s former agent John Viola has also been made bankrupt over an unpaid £225,000 tax bill related to a similar investment.

Jackson signed for Dundee United in 1988, where he spent four years and picked up a Scottish Cup runners-up medal.

He joined Hibernian in 1992 and during his five years at Easter Road was a runner-up again, this time in the League Cup.

He then moved to Celtic in 1997 and went on to win both the League and League Cup.

He also won 28 caps for Scotland, appearing in a World Cup in France in 1998.

Jackson said he had been comforted by support from friends and family and suggested his current financial woes can be put into perspective after the health scare he suffered in 1997 when he underwent successful brain surgery for the condition hydrocephalus - a build up of fluid on the brain.

He said: “Happily the brain surgery I went through all those years ago when I was at Celtic is the only health issue I have had to handle in my life so far.

“So, with good health and the affection and good wishes of family and friends, I am determined to come through this difficult time and rebuild my career – hopefully in the world of football coaching.”