Ex-England & Prem footie star could come out as gay in documentary

AN ex-England and Premier League footballer could come out in a TV documentary about gay footballers.

He is in talks to open up about his sexuality in a show now in production and planned to be aired on Channel 4.

Network and production company chiefs have held talks with the player after a series of meetings with agents, as well as former and ­current footballers.

It comes after Blackpool's Jake Daniels, 17, last week became the first playing pro in Britain to come out since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

The Sun on Sunday had revealed a day earlier that a Championship player was about to come out.

A footie insider said: “This documentary is going to be big and is the talk of the game at the moment.

"But after Jake made his announcement, it has just got ­bigger and made the topic even more relevant.

“They have been in talks with a secretly gay player and are confident he will participate and come out on the show.

“The overwhelmingly positive reaction to Jake's announcement has made him all the more confident.

"He realises Jake has been incredibly brave and feels he could also be a role-model who breaks down barriers if he does the same thing.”

Channel 4 did not comment about the planned documentary.

Yesterday Jake posed in a Gay Pride T-shirt and said: “Together we can end the stigma and move football forwards.”

Current England captain Harry Kane was among those who praised Jake's bravery.

And Olympic gold medal-winning diver Tom Daley has now added his support — and also thanked Kane.

Tom, 28, who came out himself in 2013, said: “Straight footballers at the top of the game are commending him, and I think for visibility in the sport it's just incredible.

“The fact that Jake came out is a really powerful message to send. It's so incredibly brave it might encourage people to be brave and more people to come out, able to be themselves.”