Ex-Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe has been forced to close his Irish sports bar in Spain less than a year after launching the business.
The former Red Devil set up 'Sharpey's Sports Bar' in December last year after emigrating to Javea, Alicante - in what he believed would be the 'perfect opportunity' for his family.
But Sharpe's fortunes seemed to have turned after the bar posted a message on their social media account to announce that they had officially closed the business.
After 'Sharpey's' closure, the 51-year-old confirmed he's looking forward to embarking on a range of 'exciting business ventures'.
According to the Sun, he said: 'As a family it just wasn’t working. It's a great business but since the summer I have been working on many exciting business ventures.
'I've many exciting projects due to be announced this month, but unfortunately I can't talk about them yet.'
There are suggestions that 'soaring rent prices' have put a premature end to the Irish sports bar - with the property in Javea now being advertised to rent for £2,845 (€3,300) a month.
In an advertisement for the business, potential buyers have been told that it's 'a huge opportunity to take over the lease for the famous original Irish Bar otherwise known as ‘Sharpey’s’.
'With the World Cup coming up this is a prime opportunity to take over this ready to go business with fully working kitchen and more than 39,000 hits on Google every month.'
Sharpe, along with his wife Lucy and two friends Aiden Roache and Juan Pintor, opened up the business last year. The group felt incentivized to leave the UK due to a potential lockdown looming at the time.
He made 193 appearances for United between 1988 to 1996 - where he won three Premier League titles - and picked up eight caps for England between 1991 and 1993.
On top of his league titles, Sharpe also won two FA Cups, a League Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.
After calling an end to his football career in 2004, the ex-winger has since began competing in professional golf tournaments.
He's also made a number of TV appearances such as on Dancing On Ice, Celebrity Wrestling and Celebrity Love Island.
