Snooker ace Willie’s house repossessed
New agony after marriage break-up
published a hastily-deleted web message which read: “Just so everybody knows and before rumours start, Jill and I have separated and she has gone back to the UK. I hope to be staying here in Spain.”
Four years ago, Willie told how his gambling addiction had brought him to the brink of suicide in a hotel room – but
With pal Alex Higgins in heyday he was saved by Jill. Speaking about his gambling habit earlier this year, Willie said: “I probably borrowed €1million over the years in order to gamble and I am still in debt from it all.
“When I look back it upsets me. I do not think I have made many good money decisions. “The last three years have been a struggle, so I am trying my hardest to get work and get back on my feet.” Willie, who was declared bankrupt in 2015, has also told how money lenders threatened to chop off his wife’s fingers and take her jewellery. The dad-of-three’s fortunes have dipped dramatically since his playing career ended. Back in snooker’s 1980s heyday, Willie and stars such as Steve Davis, Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor were pulling in TV audiences of up to 19 million. He was dubbed The Maximum Man for making more 147 breaks in practice than any of the other players. He was national under-16 champion in 1970 and twice reached the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship. He won the Classic in 1985, and after quitting in the mid1990s became a BBC pundit for 20 years. phil.cardy@mirror.co.uk
With Jill before marriage split