Colin hendry
Colin Hendry went bankrupt after owning more than £2m Getty

Former Scotland football captain Colin Hendry, a recovering gambling addict who declared bankruptcy in 2010, has been named as an ambassador for an company who promote online betting.

The former Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers defender is now employed by Matching Visions, a Scandinavian-based company who market online games and betting.

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Hendry will represent the company at the SiGMA gaming conference attended by online casino companies, with roles including taking part in a football tournament. The 50-year-old blamed online betting as a factor in his bankruptcy after getting into debts of more than £2m, ($2.4m) including owing £40,000 to bookmakers.

A statement on the company website said: "Colin Hendry will be our ambassador and team captain throughout this spectacular event.

"Colin will represent Matching Visions, both on and off the field "There is certain to be an air of excitement during the tournament, with plenty of young football fanatics out there wanting to try their luck against this legendary defender.

"Off the field, Hendry will be the Matching Visions ambassador and join in with the long line of fun and exciting activities."

Hector McFarlane, who loaned Hendry £90,000, has condemned the former footballer for taking on the job. He told the Scottish Sun: "Hendry admitted gambling his money and mine away on the internet. Now he accepts a role with an international internet gaming company. Shame on him."

Karim Fatih, the founder of A Better Perspective, a company that trains young professional sportsmen to gamble responsibly, said it is "irresponsible" for the company to employ Hendry but not surprising.

He told the Times: "Every time I pick up a magazine, watch TV or log on to the internet there is another former footballer promoting gambling. It is scraping the bottom of the barrel to use someone with Hendry's background. It is exploitative."

IBTimes UK has contacted Matching Visions for comment.

Hendry was capped 51 times for Scotland and captained the team during their 1998 World Cup campaign. He made more than 500 appearances during his career and was part of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995.