Merson reaches agreement to avoid losing his home
Last updated at 15:05 11 January 2008
Former England footballer Paul Merson has avoided losing his home after he reached an agreement with his bank.
The media pundit faced the threat of repossession after falling behind with monthly repayments to the bank.
A representative for Lloyds Bank told a hearing at Birmingham County Court that Merson was in arrears to the bank to the amount of £17,834.
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But Ms Riley said that Merson had agreed to pay £400 per month towards the arrears, as well his monthly repayments of £1,969.
Merson, 39, who represented himself, did not speak during the brief hearing and did not comment afterwards.
He must make his first payment by January 31, it was agreed.
A spokeswoman for Lloyds Bank said today: "We have a duty of confidentiality so we are unable to make any comment."
Merson has fought an addiction to alcohol, drugs and betting for more than two decades.
In the 1989/90 season at Arsenal, he was banned from Highbury for two weeks amid reports of drinking and gambling debts.
In November 1994, he confessed he had a cocaine habit. He entered an addiction unit and was released six weeks later on the condition he attended outpatient therapy and support groups.
The Football Association later said cocaine was not his main problem - it was drinking and gambling.
In 2003 Merson said he had kicked the drink and drugs problems but was still haunted by gambling.
Peter Kay, of the Sporting Chance Clinic, a centre for the treatment of behavioural problems among professional sports people, said: "Paul hasn't sought our advice for a number of years but socially I still see him and speak to him from time to time.
"He knows we are always here if he needs us."
He added: "His gambling problem is very much in the public domain."
Merson used to be a patron of the clinic, which was set up by former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams, but was replaced by Lee Dixon, another former Arsenal player.
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