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Keith Gillespie talks gambling addiction and Newcastle's title challenge with Johnny Phillips

Image: Gillespie: tried to hide his gambling addiction

Newcastle United go to Old Trafford on Saturday one point ahead of Manchester United in the Premier League. They are rivals no more, but there was a time when the two clubs slugged it out at the top.

Bankrupt
In 2010, after a string of botched business deals including funding a film syndicate in the hope of gaining tax advantages, he was declared bankrupt. The spiral of events also led to depression and Gillespie has been remarkably candid in revealing all this in his new book How Not To Be A Football Millionaire. "I knew the bankruptcy was coming so when it all came out it was a weight off my mind," he added. "I was glad it was all out there. "A lot of players have got involved in the film syndicate thing which was what eventually made me bankrupt. I'm three years on from that so it's just a case of rebuilding and I'm in a better place than I was. I still feel young, I'm just looking forward to the future. "I've certainly had more ups and downs than most. It was difficult to talk about some of the problems I've had but I wanted to get it off my chest and get it out there. You don't envisage it until you see it. It's nice to see the book sitting there." How Not To Be A Football Millionaire is more than just a tale of woe, there are many great memories and he comes clean about one or two stories that did the rounds during his time with Newcastle; the bust-up with Alan Shearer that ended with a hospital visit, the bed-hopping scrapes with fans - they're all in there. Gillespie has had lots to deal with in a colourful career. Plenty of his troubles were of his own making but some, such as the awful La Manga prison episode while at Leicester City, have been unfairly put upon him. Reflecting on it all, he is pragmatic enough to acknowledge that there is no point living his life now harbouring regrets, although the outcome of that 1995/96 title challenge does still bring with it a tinge of disappointment. "Those years at Newcastle were my best years as a footballer, playing in a very attack-minded side. Nobody really gave us a chance at the start of that season and it was just a shame we couldn't quite get there. "If we had won it I think Newcastle would have really kicked on and become a regular top-four side after that." You can see our full interview with Keith Gillespie on Gillette Soccer Saturday this weekend.

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