The ploy meshes with the cynicalstory that follows, of a poor boy with a Machiavellian streak who takes to heart an apprenticeship as a croupier in decadent Monte Carlo and becomes a first-class cardsharp.
Mr Tomlinson said the footballer had not received any notice that the story was about to appear which, he said, was a"cynical and deliberate" move to stop him applying for an injunction.