Business as usual’ at club

FORMER professional snooker player Ian Gerrard, who once managed Joe Perry, says it s business at usual at his Wisbech club after a former partner declared himself bankrupt. Ian Gerrard, owner of Supercue in Chapel Road, said his four-year partnership wit

FORMER professional snooker player Ian Gerrard, who once managed Joe Perry, says it's business at usual at his Wisbech club after a former partner declared himself bankrupt.

Ian Gerrard, owner of Supercue in Chapel Road, said his four-year partnership with Darren Barker came to an end last summer.

Mr Barker, who now gives his employment as an administrator but of no fixed abode, previously lived in Mount Drive, Wisbech.

An official statement published this week in the London Gazette - the official guide to company and individual insolvencies - says Mr Barker "traded in partnership with another as Supercue Snooker Club at Chapel Road".

Mr Barker is the subject of a bankruptcy order made against him at King's Lynn County Court on

January 12.

"The petition was filed at the court be the debtor himself," said the statement.

The amount of the debt is not mentioned in the Gazette. However bankruptcy proceedings can be brought only if at least £750 is owed.

The Official Receiver at Convent Road, Norwich, has been appointed to safeguard the debtor's assets.

Mr Gerrard told the Wisbech Standard that Mr Barker entered into a partnership with him in 2003 after he had arrived to help run the club.

"I saw his potential and later offered him a partnership," said Mr Gerrard.

However, the relationship came to an end and Mr Gerrard took back his full stake in the club.

Mr Gerrard managed Joe Perry for more than two years at the time the Chatteris player was a regular at the Wisbech club.