Gary Neville has been left gutted after losing a sizeable sum in a failed investment, while former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane also conceded he has lost out in the past
Gary Neville has disclosed how he suffered substantial financial losses following a disastrous pension investment. Former Manchester United colleague Roy Keane offered his sympathy by admitting to his own financial blunders during his playing career.
The revelations emerged following a recent BBC documentary, ‘Football’s Financial Shame: The Story of the V11’. The programme told how a collection of ex-footballers who achieved fame during the 1990s and 2000s, including Danny Murphy, Brian Deane and Rod Wallace, believed they had fallen victim to financial exploitation after investing with Kingsbridge Asset Management.
Following the broadcast, Neville shared his own tale of being deceived after a team-mate’s recommendation led him down the wrong path. Keane, 54, has now advised current footballers to “get a good accountant” to manage their finances rather than placing excessive faith in someone with their own agenda.
“I’ve been able to withstand it, but I got advised from a player to invest in a pension, and move my PFA pension into this different pension,” Neville explained on the Stick to Football podcast (via The Mirror). “Because I was frustrated by the PFA pension, because it was just stuck there [and] wasn’t doing anything.
“I was quite entrepreneurial [and] thought, ‘Okay, is there another pension I could go to?’ So this player came up to me and said invest in this pension. I’m not talking any player, a player I really trusted. I put my money in this pension, where you could actually then go and invest in commercial property, [which] means you can actually see some benefit at least.
“The whole thing – [this was] about 10 years ago – locked up to this day. So I’ve got three properties I can’t even touch, can’t go in, can’t get any money out of. I’ve lost all the money in it.”
It emerged in 2022 that United legends Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand were among a group of footballers who lost £25million following investments with Kingsbridge. Accusations against the company run by David McKee and Kevin McMenamin, who deny any wrongdoing, stretch back several years earlier.
When pressed for further details by Arsenal legend Ian Wright, Neville clarified the trustees maintain control over the funds locked in the properties he co-owns. Keane expressed sympathy for those who had suffered losses.
“I think all of us will have stories,” said the Irishman. “I’ve gone into one or two things [and] lost a lot, a lot of money. Again, people you trust. That’s why I go back to it, any young sportsperson, get a good accountant!”
Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher shared similar views and joined the discussion by suggesting he too had experienced losses previously. Nevertheless, he advised athletes should focus on their expertise rather than venturing into areas beyond their knowledge.
Neville, however, has had his fair share of success off the pitch. The former England full-back, who is estimated to be worth tens of millions, co-owns two Manchester hotels, the Stock Exchange and Hotel Football, and also runs his own production company.
In 2024, Neville’s business acumen was recognised when he appeared as a guest Dragon on several episodes of Dragons’ Den. Meanwhile, Keane’s work ethic appears to have influenced his family after one of his daughters, Caragh, launched her own superfoods brand following her lupus diagnosis.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
2025-09-11 12:05:06
