Michael Clarke and Anthony Bell no longer best mates

It’s been called the ‘the final nail in the coffin’ in the once tight friendship between ex-Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke and celebrity accountant Anthony Bell.

Michael Clarke has become further distanced from his old bestie and former business partner, Anthony Bell, as he signs with yet another management company.

Sources say Clarke’s latest move is the final nail in the coffin for the relationship between him and the celebrity accountant with Bell confirming the relationship was strained yesterday.

“Events of 2023 have taken their toll on mine and Michael’s friendship which naturally has made it impossible to conduct a business relationship,” Bell said.

“We wish Michael all the best in his future.”

Sunday Confidential can reveal Clarke is now being represented by Pacific Sports Management, which is run by Gavin Orr, a former Eastern Suburbs Roosters rugby league player. It adds to the long list of management companies the former cricketer has engaged with in recent years, his most recent being the enigmatic Patrick Devlin, who he signed with in March 2023. He has also previously been repped by James Erskine, and International Quarterback’s Chris White.

Michael Clarke and Anthony Bell together in happier times. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The new management company comes just four months after his trainwreck interview with A Current Affair, where he was meant to be promoting a bitters brand.

In what was his first TV appearance after the infamous Noosa Brawl, of the seven minute and 20 second interview, just 46 seconds was dedicated to the promotion of the drink brand, the rest highlighting and reliving the Noosa incident which resulted in him losing his radio contract and endorsement deals, hurting his post-cricket reputation. At the time an insider said, “Clarkey doesn’t have an agent or publicist guiding him at the moment and you can tell. He should never have done ACA to promote a drink … he was completely stitched up.”

Gavin Orr. Picture: Ken Leonfore

So it seems Clarke has taken heed and employed an agent. However, the new signing highlights the now undeniable bad blood between Clarke and former best friend Bell.

The pair – who at one time shared an office space – were once inseparable, however, since Clarke’s reputation took a battering in recent years, and he fact he was dragged into the messy Noosa affair, the celeb businessman has been quietly distancing himself.

It is believed he was unaware of Clarke’s new management.

In 2022, the pair became co-owners of $15m superyacht Nassima – renamed Ghost III and put out to charter on the Mediterranean.

It was first reported in May 2022 that the two friends had purchased the 50m craft to expand their charter boat business, Elite, which includes two Sydney-based vessels, Ghost and Ghost II.

It’s believed Clarke has sold his share in it.

Michael Clarke and Jade Yarbrough in 2022. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Proving there’s been no love lost between the duo is the fact Clarke was nowhere to be seen on Bell’s superyacht in the South of France last September.

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