Annette Sharpe: Michael Clarke hires brand manager Patrick Devlin

Michael Clarke has taken the first step towards repairing his battered reputation by recruiting his ex-fiancee Lara Bingle’s former brand manager, writes Annette Sharp.

Michael Clarke has taken the first step towards repairing his battered reputation by recruiting a WA-based brand manager.

The retired Australian cricket captain’s public image has taken a pounding since January when he was recorded having an ugly verbal stoush with his then-girlfriend Jade Yarbrough and former close mate Karl Stefanovic in a Noosa park.

Since then Clarke has lost work — he was dropped as a commentator by India’s cricket authorities in February while other lucrative marketing associations have been shelved — lost fans and supporters, been fined by Queensland Police for creating a public nuisance and become a national laughing stock.

To restore his credibility and remedy the situation the celebrated batsman has enlisted, this column hears, under-the-radar brand specialist Patrick Devlin.

Neither Clarke nor Devlin could be reached on Saturday to discuss their association.

Fashion-loving Michael Clarke and Jade Yarbrough at the Louis Vuitton SEE LV exhibition last November. Picture: Getty Images

Clarke is understood to have signed with Devlin’s PHD Advisory last month, weeks after footage emerged of a shirtless Clarke quarrelling with Yarbrough, who is seen repeatedly hitting Clarke while accusing him of being unfaithful with fashionista Pip Edwards, which he later denied.

Also in the party that night was Karl “Karlos ya c..t” Stefanovic, his wife Jasmine and the Sydney accountant who moonlights as Stefanovic’s and Clarke’s social attache, Anthony Bell, their frequent host, the unlikely glue in the friendship.

Same brand, different girl: Clarke with Lara Bingle at a Louis Vuitton store in 2009.

Bingle with her old manager (and Clarke’s new one) Patrick Devlin. Picture: Instagram

Since the fracas, Clarke has maintained a low profile in Sydney.

He hasn’t yet ventured back on to Instagram — his last post was nine weeks ago, a couple of days before the disaster dinner — although he does continue to front up for his paid gig at Sky Racing’s Sky Sports Radio.

Accustomed to management representation from sports management firms like Chris White’s International Quarterback and Shane Warne’s longtime manager James Erskine, Clarke’s new strategist is an unlikely pick.

Devlin, who once worked as a buyer for Australian fashion forecaster Yasmin Sewell and spent one year at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, has set himself up as a model agent.

Of course, Clarke’s interest in fashion — and in models and designers — is well documented.

Yarbrough screaming at Clarke in a Noosa park, accusing him of …

… seeing ex-girlfriend Pip Edwards, pictured with Clarke in 2020. Picture: Getty

The former Australian cricket captain adores his high-end fashion brands and memorably, during the latter years of his celebrated cricket career, was lampooned for attempting to position himself, along with one-time fiancee Lara Bingle, as the Louis Vuitton-clad “Becks and Posh” of Australia.

It seems Clarke may still admire his “Posh”, Bingle, who has never been more posh than she is now as the reborn Mrs Sam Worthington.

Michael Clarke: Life and times of former Test cricket captain

Until recently Bingle/Worthington was also on the books at Devlin’s PHD Advisory.

That was until the mother-of-three dumped Devlin as her brand strategist before Christmas.

The pair’s fruitful five-year association had been lauded by fashionistas, who credited little-known Devlin with transforming the model’s hapless shire girl bimbo brand into something infinitely cooler as Mrs Worthington, wife of Avatar actor Sam.

But in November she gave Devlin the boot just days after it emerged he had signed a new recruit — model Gabriella Brooks.

Clarke, pictured kicking back at home in his Balenciaga trackies, is looking to reboot his image. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Brooks also happens to be Liam Hemsworth’s on-again off-again girlfriend.

Brooks’ signing is understood to have ruffled the Worthingtons’ feathers.

As reported here previously, Sam Worthington has competed for roles with Hemsworth’s older brother Chris, aka Thor, for many years. It apparently didn’t suit to have Lara and a potential future Mrs Hemsworth in the same stable.

As it turns out, the Worthingtons had nothing to worry about.

Brooks recently quit Devlin’s shop and returned, after three months, to her original agent and former mentor Priscilla Leighton-Clark at Sydney model agency Priscilla’s.

Despite Brooks’ departure, this column doesn’t see Mrs Worthington returning to Devlin’s company anytime soon though.

If sharing a roster with Liam Hemsworth’s girlfriend could rub the Worthingtons the wrong way, sharing it with ex-fiance Clarke would likely be unthinkable.

Equipped with a new agent — something he’s been without for about eight years — now begins the serious work of rehabilitating Clarke’s image.

From the playbook of image restoration, we’re tipping an attempt at reconciliation with Yarbrough will be the first order of business.

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