29th July 2010

The Players Programme enrolls Judicare to deliver property investment classes

The Players' Programme was created by ex-Manchester United trainee Simon Andrews to provide guidance to up-and-coming footballers about lifestyle choices, dealing with the media and finances. The scheme was first taken up by Man United, before it was rolled out to most of the clubs in the Premier League. It aims to prepare players for when their careers end, as well as aiding in some crucial decisions during their careers.

The latest strand to be added to the Programme is a segment that addresses the key issues around overseas property investment. A large proportion of high earning professionals - maybe even a majority - choose to invest some of their earnings into apartments and villas abroad, often at least in part for personal use, but also aiming to grow their capital or generate income in their footballing retirement. Andrews believes that hundreds of current and ex-footballers have already encountered difficulties with their investments, a lack of proper independent advice combining with recent falls in property values worldwide to leave many investors worryingly exposed.

Teaming up with Judicare, the property investment recovery legal outfit headed by ex-Arsenal & Southampton winger Neil Heaney, the Programme provides advice on avoiding difficulties commonly encountered as well as being a source of help for those with investments that already appear to be running into choppy waters.

Heaney himself suffered just such a reverse when the development that he and a group of fellow footballing professionals had invested in failed to materialise.  "Property investment is a great fit for many of us both during and at the end of our careers, but - " warns Heaney, "it has to be with a grounded understanding of the risks and how to minimise them, and with properly independent expert advice from the outset."

For Andrews there are two clear objectives for the initiative: "With this partnership we will be able to help would-be investors avoid most of the problems that others have run into. For those that are already facing potential losses, help is also at hand. This is exactly the kind of educational and professional support we need in the Game and across professional sport in general."

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