FORMER Blackburn Rovers striker Marcus Bent has been declared bankrupt.

The 40-year-old played for the Ewood Park club in between November 2000 and November 2001 following a £2.1million transfer from Sheffield United.

At Blackburn Rovers he got his first taste of Premier League Football after helping the team to promotion from the then First Division.

He went on to make 37 league appearance, scoring eight goals, before joining Ipswich Town for £3million in November 2001.

In February 2016, Mr Bent admitted to affray and possessing cocaine at Guildford Crown Court.

The court appearance followed Mr Bent confronting two police officers with a meat cleaver and a kitchen knife while in a 'delusional' state under the influence of cocaine at his flat in Esher Surrey. They officers had to Taser him.

He was was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years, ordered to pay £500 compensation to each of the officers, £1,500 court fees, undertake 200 hours community service, observe a two-month night-time curfew and pay a victim surcharge of £100.

The ex-Everton star is understood to have earned close to £1million-a-year at his Premier League peak.

He also had stints at Leicester City, Crystal Palace Middlesbrough, Wigan Athletic and Charlton, Wolves and Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers.

Public records show Mr Bent declared himself bankrupt in the High Court. His petition, filed in September, was granted on January 2 .

The bankruptcy notice confirms Mr Bent, who has residencies in Manchester and Surrey, has now retired from playing professionally

His last club was non-league Wick.

The ex-England Under 21 international played 574 games and scored 113 goals during his professional career at 14 different clubs