Andy Carroll is on less than minimum wage in France as he rebuilds career in fourth tier

Andy Carroll is earning less than the French minimum wage as he continues to with Bordeaux. The former Ligue 1 outfit ran into financial trouble and have paid the price but have the former man leading their line.

The 36-year-old, who once banked , is earning just €1,614 (£1372.55) gross per month in the wine-loving city, which is less than €1,400 (£1200) after tax, according to . That figure is below the French minimum wage of €1,801.80 (£1532.25) gross for a 35-hour work week, which actually classifies Carroll as a part-time employee.

, who have claimed six French titles with their most recent in 2009, being plunged down to the National 2 after declaring bankruptcy last year. The tall forward, who played for England at Euro 2012, has scored eight goals so far this campaign, with seven matches remaining in the league.

Carroll once earned £80,000-a-week when he was on the books at Anfield, but he struggled to consistently produce and went on to play for the likes of and Reading before moving to France He could earn a €2,000 (£1700) bonus if he reaches ten goals or assists combined and has been open about how much he's loving life in France following several difficult moves in England.

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"I thought I'd like to experience something different and try a different way of life, different football, and I've ended up here and I'm loving it," he told . "The lifestyle is very good, it's a beautiful place to be, the people are lovely and the football's great. It's just a nice way of life."

"I think it's changed my mindset completely," he continued. "I think being in England for so long, it was so much pressure, and I think football is everywhere in England and everyone just wants to talk about it.

"But here you can get a little escape. I can go and play the football, go training every day, but come outside and just be normal and have a normal life."

Carroll, who has seen a career ravaged by injuries, is simply happy to be playing football. Even in a more modest environment.

"I've had a lot of injuries and I think it's sad for me to think of all the games I've missed," he said, "And all the comments I've had about, 'you want to be injured', or, 'you want to do this'. Everyone that knows me knows that's not the case at all, I've just wanted to play football, and now I can get a chance at 36 to play and enjoy it, it's great."

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