Stanford ambassador likely to lose huge chunk of wealth

Picture: Worried customers queue to withdraw their savings from a Stanford bank. Not pictured: The wolf banging at Michael Owen’s door.

Last April, Michael Owen agreed to become a global ambassador for the Stanford Financial Group. That’s the same Stanford Financial Group whose chairman is currently facing a £5.6bn fraud charge.

Owen’s statement of endorsement, made back in April, now makes interesting reading:

“Stanford is a company that has a solid track record in financial services and wealth management. I’m proud to be associated with the Stanford brand and delighted they’ve asked me to serve as one of their global ambassadors.”

Michael Owen’s pride, however, isn’t the only thing to take a hit in light of the Stanford Scandal - according to the Daily Mail, the striker is thought to have invested in the Texan’s empire, and has some of his fortune managed by Stanford companies.

Owen, was who recently offered a £25,000-a-week pay cut by the team who are sponsored by Northern Rock, is also an ambassador for Jaguar, the car company whose plummeting sales have forced them to lay off staff and halt production.

Is this man financially cursed?

They could have got away with it too…

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. As we write, John Darwin’s wife is probably in court, clumsily attempting to explain to a straight-faced jury how she didn’t mean to do anything wrong, things got a little out of hand, and she’s really sorry, and hopefully won’t do it again. She’s having a terrible day, made even worse by the fact it could so easily have been avoided.

Had the couple just taken a step back and assessed the situation, he could have pretended to be John McEnroe, she could have stuck to the bogus canoe story, and no one would be any the wiser. They’d be living la vida loca in beautiful Mexico!

Ho hum.

Veteran star grasses up former teammate for DVLA offences

During his days at West Ham, Shaun Newton received a seven month ban for lapping up a little too much tasty cocaine. The midfielder, who is currently unemployed, now finds himself in more trouble, as he stands accused of nine charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice:

[Teddy Sheringham], 42, said ex-West Ham colleague Shaun Newton offered to “get rid” of the ticket after he was clocked at 64mph in a 40mph zone in 2005.

Sheringham told Croydon Crown Court: “I was moaning about getting the ticket, and Shaun Newton said, ‘Give me £50 and I’ll sort it out’.”

Ex-West Ham player, Bobby Zamora, 27, said he paid Newton to “have a look” at a ticket.

Allegedly, Newton helped teammates escape fines by claiming fictitious drivers were actually behind the wheel.

We can’t say too much, as legal proceedings are still active on this case, but if any illegal activity is proven, let’s hope the judge throws the book at them. All too often, cocky footballers believe they are above the rules that govern the rest of society, and this would bring them right back down to earth.

[The Sun]