Tilney's sports star advice arm hires former Aston Villa and Manchester United footballers

Tilney is working to build up its team of professionals who advise sports professionals and their families.

Through its existing relationships with sporting clients, Tilney said it recognised the need to help sportspeople make better informed decisions to protect their financial future, particularly when all areas of sport will be facing a financial reset due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as uncertainty looms around broadcasting and sponsorship revenues.

Tilney's Private Sports team has nationwide coverage and business development director and former professional footballer Simon Andrews, who played for Manchester United, has been hired to support the coverage.

Former Aston Villa, Bolton and Everton player Gareth Farrelly, who also played for Ireland, has joined the effort as an ambassador. Farrelly, who is also a lawyer, sits on the judicial panel for the English Premier League and has dedicated his post-playing career to helping sports professionals at all stages of their lives make the best decisions in terms of their finances and wellbeing.

Andrews said: "People all across the world of sport have a unique career which can start in early teens and finish abruptly, sometimes before they have even turned 30. Without the right support, they can easily find themselves receiving conflicting advice from a variety of external influences who may not have their best interests at heart."

Farrelly added: "I have spent my entire legal career seeing both young and experienced sportspeople fall victim to parasitic influences from the outside. It is well documented that 40% of footballers face the threat of bankruptcy within 5 years of retirement, people in sport face challenges unlike any other industry.

"This is why I am so excited about the proposition at Tilney. The sports private office offers an enormous opportunity to really help sportspeople and their families by working closely with them and their other trusted advisers to provide a consistent approach to their financial lives both while they are playing and before they move into their next careers."

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