An auction oversight has left Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand's new kids charity out of pocket.
The Sunday Mirror says disgraced Tory peer Lord Archer - who was auctioneer - found himself at the centre of the embarrassing cock-up which happened because a reserve price wasn't put on the three most expensive pairs of boots in the world.
But it meant lucky logistics manager Brett O'Connor could pick up a pair of boots donated by Wayne Rooney and encrusted with 2,576 gems at a knockdown price.
A second pair, given by ex-England skipper John Terry and covered with a dazzling 2,374 jewels, was sold for £20,000... despite being worth £135,000.
And a third pair donated by Ferdinand himself, also valued at £125,000, went for a mere £22,000.
It meant all three pairs were sold for £325,000 less than their combined value, leaving Ferdinand's Live The Dream Foundation, hugely short-changed.
The boots were the main draw at an auction during a star-studded VIP party - hosted by actor James Corden - to celebrate the launch of Ferdinand's new charity for under-privileged kids.
Yesterday a spokesman for Ferdinand said: "I think the jewellers over-estimated how much people would be prepared to pay. It left us with a mammoth task to satisfy everyone and caused a delay in the boots being sent out. But it's now been resolved.
"The three men obviously got a bargain - full credit has to go to the jewellers for donating such a wonderful lot to Rio's charity."