Ireland rails against Flash Harry image

Former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ireland has revealed he is still struggling to shrug off the tag of a big-spending Premier League star.

Ireland’s lavish lifestyle has received more than its fair share of column inches over the years. But not everything is as it seems.

“My finance Jessica and I were in Toys ‘R’ Us loading toys into the back of the car,” he said. “We got papped and got slated — ‘rich footballer buying thousands of pounds of presents for his kids at Christmas when families are struggling in the recession’.