Former Baggies star Lee Hughes declared bankrupt

Hughes, 41, who earned £20,000-a-week as a Premiership striker, joined non-league Halesowen Town FC earlier this month.

The former roofer began his career at Kidderminster Harriers before joining the Baggies, leaving in 2001 when he signed for Coventry for £5 million.

Last May he took his first steps in management when he became player-manager at Worcester City but ended his contract to join for Evo-Stik Premier side Halesowen Town.

Hughes, who also played for AFC Telford, had two spells at the Baggies from 1997-2001 and 2002-2004, scoring 90 goals in 211 games. He scored 70 goals in 139 games for Harriers.

He scored 203 league goals with seven different clubs and spent three years out of the game when he was sent to prison in August 2004 for causing death by dangerous driving.

After his release from prison in August 2007, he played at Oldham, Blackpool, Notts County and Port Vale. He was appointed as Worcester City's joint manager, after agreeing to rejoin the relegated National League North side.

The news was announced in the London Gazette, the official public record for bankrupts, yesterday after a petition was filed in January and heard in the High Court earlier this month.

Smethwick-born Hughes declined to comment yesterday.