Former football star’s media company hit with HMRC winding up petition
A company owned by former Liverpool FC and England forward, John Barnes, is the subject of a winding up petition by HMRC.
John Barnes Media Ltd, is registered at Pyrford Road, West Byfleet, Surrey.
Companies House records show there is only one officer, Mr Barnes, who was appointed as a director of the company on September 4, 2012.
Described as offering media representation services, the company has failed to file its latest accounts, for the year to October 31, 2021, which were due by October 31, 2022. There is an active proposal to strike the company off.
The company, which was incorporated on September 4, 2012, has been the subject of a series of actions to be struck off, which were then discontinued.
Records show the first notice to strike off the company was lodged on September 9, 2014, and then discontinued later that month on September 20.
Another notice for compulsory strike off was issued on February 16, 2016, which was suspended on March 26, then discontinued on April 12.
However, on July 18, 2018, an order to wind up the company was issued following evidence presented by a creditor of the company on March 15, 2018. This, though was then rescinded on August 30, 2018, after an admission the original order had been made in error.
But on November 26, 2019, a compulsory strike-off notice was issued, before being discontinued on December 14.
Yet again, a notice of compulsory strike-off was announced on February 1, 2022, before being discontinued on February 8.
The latest strike-off notice was published on January 1, 2023, and states: “Upon the company’s dissolution, all property and rights vested in, or held in trust for, the company are deemed to be bona vacantia, and will belong to the Crown.”
Bona vacantia refers to vacant goods and is the name given to ownerless property, which, by law, passes to the Crown.
The last accounts filed for the company, for the year to October 31, 2020, showed that Mr Barnes owed the company £228,080, which was an increase on the previous year’s debt of £177,144.
During his career, John Charles Bryan Barnes played for Watford, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Charlton FC. His managerial career included stints at Celtic, Jamaica and Tranmere Rovers.
He is now an author, commentator and pundit.
