Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney pulled out of a charity poker tournament - 48 hours after we revealed the Man Utd star owed £700,000 to a bookie.
The pair were due to attend the event organised by Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard and his cousin, ex-Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp, at a London casino on Tuesday.
Among the celebrities who did turn up were West Ham's veteran striker Teddy Sheringham and retired Rangers ace-turned-TV pundit Ally McCoist. Also there was England rugby star Matt Dawson, former Ryder Cup golf captain Sam Torrance, snooker legend Jimmy White and Radio 5 presenter DJ Spoony. Each contestant was believed to have staked around £2,000. Last night an insider said: "Wayne and Michael were both due to go to the bash. But after the hoo-ha with Wayne's debts they didn't show. Maybe they just thought it was better to keep a low profile."