AN adviser to a football star who ran up £100,000 of gambling debts has been beaten up in a vicious street attack.
Grant Brebner recently left Dundee United for Australia owing a substantial sum.
The former Hibs player's affairs are being handled by a Tayside company. And the man dealing with Brebner's debts was viciously battered at his home.
Gavin McLeish, 32, a director of Dand Carnegie Accounting Solutions, suffered a broken arm, cuts, bruises and severe shock.
During the attack by three men, he was told: "You'd better get Brebner's affairs in order."
He was taken to Ninewells Hospital and operated on. Last night his condition was "stable".
The attack happened around 5.20pm on Monday, close to McLeish's home in the Blackness area of Dundee.
Brebner played for Manchester United and Hibs before Dundee United.
He joined Australian side Melbourne Victory in the summer.
Last night, speaking from his Melbourne hotel, the 29-year-old footballer said he was shocked his name was linked to the attack.
Brebner admitted he still owes money but refused to discuss the actual amounts and insisted: "Anyone I do owe money to I speak to and they are fine. There is no nastiness whatsoever."
The footballer confirmed that McLeish has been appointed to manage his financial affairs but said they had not spoken for around three weeks.
Brebner said: "It's a horrendous situation. I feel for Gavin but for me to be brought into it as well is very concerning."
He added: "What's the logic in attacking this man? What benefit would that do to anybody?"
Brebner has spoken openly in the past of his massive gambling problems.
He has freely admitted that in one spree, he punted more than £100,000 on dogs, horses and football results.
When he was earning £2500 a week, he gambled the lot. On some occasions, he placed single bets of £500 and often lost his enitre weekly pay on betting.
The former Hibs captain even spent a Christmas in a rehabilitation clinic run by Sporting Chance, the charity founded by former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams, a recovering alcoholic.
The clinic deals with alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling and eating disorders.
Brebner has told how gambling gradually took control of his life.
He said: "It was a big part of my life and took a grip of me. With addiction, you gamble until your final penny is gone."
While in rehab, Brebner saw a psychologist twice daily for a month and attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
Now he is fighting to kick the habit, but he admitted: "I deal with gambling day to day - and I will until the day I die.
"I do what's needed to stave off the urge to gamble.
"Family and friends support me and I have enough people I can call."
The attack on McLeish has resulted in the finance firm cutting its links with Brebner.
A spokesman for the company,formerly known as DCFS, said: "Mr Brebner is no longer a client here."
Asked when that relationship ended, the spokesman replied tersely:"Recently."
He added: "It is very difficult for us to make any comment. We have been advised to make no comment because it is a police matter.
"We are worried about our employees."
Tayside Police are investigating the brual assault and have issued an appeal for witnesses.
The three attackers were last seen running down Abbotsford Street and west towards Seymour Street.
A small blue car - possibly the getaway vehicle - was then seen to drive off at speed towards Blackness Road.
One of the men was wearing a blue tracksuit, another was wearing a dark coloured tracksuit and baseball cap.
Tayside Police have appealed for information or witnesses.
Speaking about the extent of his gambling addicition in the past, Brebner said: "I did it a lot but every day was different.
"Initially, you do it because there's a buzz attached to gambling. That's first and foremost why you do it."
He added: "It's the adrenalin highs which make you do it but then there's the downside, which affects you when things don't go right.
"And nine times out of 10, they don't."
source : http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
