Carlton Cole, remember him?

Back in the early 2000s, after he broke into Chelsea’s first team, Cole was being touted as a potential England striker.

The Croydon-born centre-forward did go on to represent his country - seven times between 2009 and 2010 - but arguably failed to fulfil the potential that he showed as a youngster.

Cole will be remembered most for his nine-year spell with West Ham.

He scored 68 goals in 293 matches for the Hammers and is still remembered with fondness by the club’s supporters.

After leaving West Ham in 2015, he then went on to have brief spells with Celtic, Sacramento Republic in the United States and Persib Bandung in Indonesia.

Cole’s contract was terminated by Persib last August but he wants to continue playing football, despite the fact he turns 35 later this year.

Cole has been without a club since August

He had trained with the likes of Southend United and AFC Wimbledon this season but has failed to secure a contract.

Birmingham City and Hull City were also reportedly interested in signing the veteran forward in January but a move failed to materialise.

Fast-forward a couple of months and it’s suddenly become clear why Cole is looking to prolong his career in professional football.

What's currently happening with Cole is sad

In rather sad news brought to our attention by The Sun, Cole is now facing possible bankruptcy.

He is due in front of an insolvency and companies judge at the High Court in London in May 16 after a previous hearing was adjourned.

Considering Cole was once earning £30,000-a-week, this is some fall from grace for a former international footballer who hasn’t even retired yet.

However, Cole is far from the only high-profile footballer to go bust in recent years and he certainly won’t be the last.

It’s patently clear that young footballers require more advice when it comes to their finances.

Too many players are ending their careers having wasted so much of their earnings - and Cole, unfortunately, appears to be the latest to add his name to the growing list of bankrupt footballers.

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