Andy Gray struggling to get by on £150k a year
Published 22:58 26/11/11 By MirrorFootball
Sacked football pundit Andy Gray is flogging his £3.9million country mansion... because he can’t get by on £150,000 a year.
The shamed Sky Sports presenter – given the boot 10 months ago for sexist comments about a female assistant ref – has put the five-bedroom property on the market after remortgaging it three times.
Gray, 55, has told a friend: “These are difficult times and I need the money.”
The former Scottish striker earned £1.6million a year at Sky, but now earns a tenth of that co-hosting a Talksport radio show with ex-sidekick Richard Keys.
Both lost their jobs in January after they were recorded off-air complaining that lineswoman Sian Massey didn’t know the offside rule because she was a woman.
Gray’s friend told the Sunday Mirror: “Andy’s got a massive mortgage to pay but suddenly it’s not as easy for him. The place is stunning, but he knows he can’t afford to stay there.
“He told me he’s facing difficult times. It’s no wonder he’s selling up.” The sprawling home in a picturesque Warwickshire village boasts lavish reception rooms, a gym, snooker room, swimming pool, tennis court, ornamental lake, stables, an adjoining three bedroom cottage and its own putting green. It is set in 19 acres of rolling countryside.
Land Registry details show Gray bought the property in August 2005 for £2.1m. The same records reveal his last re-mortgage was in March.
Gray was known as Randy Andy during his heyday with Aston Villa, Wolves, Everton, West Brom and Rangers. He has fathered five children with four women and his two divorces are thought to have cost him hundreds of thousands of pounds.
He now lives with fiancée Rachel Lewis, 41, after having an affair with her behind the back of his former best friend, businessman Michael Lewis.
When Gray was sacked Mr Lewis, 61, said: “Good. I want him to suffer as much as possible for what he did to me.”
