Footballer sued over holiday home deal

Company director Mary Aston wants the ex-midfielder, right, to return the cash, which she paid him in 2007 so he could buy his holiday home in the Algarve. Sheffield County Court heard she lent him the money to stave off bankruptcy proceedings from his former wife, to whom he owed money for a separate property deal.

Mrs Aston handed over the 110,000 in September 2007 and agreed to take out a mortgage to raise a further 90,000 to buy the Portuguese property for 200,000. But the deal was never completed and Mrs Aston has not had her money back.

The court heard although the pair wanted a quick sale within seven days, it took until the following summer for paperwork to be prepared.

Mrs Aston accused Mr Palmer of prevaricating on the deal – which she said she had arranged without a solicitor as they were "good friends."

But Mr Palmer apologised for the delay in court and said he had been busy with legal proceedings and a new job as a football pundit in Dubai.

Mr Palmer, who now lives in Dubai, told the court an additional 10,000 asked for was part of running costs for the house. He has kept the house, which is now back on the market, and said he "always intended to reimburse," Mrs Aston. The case continues.