PAUL Chalmers never quite scaled the same footballing heights as his Lisbon Lion father Steve, but he has found his own winning team thousands of miles away.

After a career with Celtic, St Mirren and Hamilton Accies, Paul has now come into his own on the foreign fields of Dubai.

With his football career behind him, Chalmers junior has turned his attentions to a successful career in real estate.

He has moved from Glasgow to head up the new Dubai office of Edinburgh-based rental and estate agency DJ Alexander.

And his first two clients in his new office are both luminaries of the English football world.

Ex-Liverpool, Spurs and England goalkeeper Ray Clemence and former Newcastle and Manchester United striker Andy Cole - still playing in the Premiership with Portsmouth - have both dealt with DJ Alexanders through Paul.

The two stars both own luxury properties in the exclusive Palm District in Dubai.

And DJ Alexanders has been happy to take on the business of letting out those houses.

However, rubbing shoulders with top flight footballers is nothing knew to former sports star Paul.

While he was manager of the company's Bath Street premises in Glasgow, Paul secured rented homes in and around the city for a number of Old Firm stars.

And he has since found his footballing connections are now paying off half way round the world.

David Alexander, who was born and raised in Hamilton, started the firm in the early1980s.

He was delighted by Paul's success. He said: "Paul kicked off in Dubai with two famous names from the world of football as our first clients.

"There is a slight difference in that footballer clients in Scotland are usually tenants whereas Ray and Andy are property owners letting out through us."

Mr Alexander is currently working in London, where the firm is to open its fourth office.

iain.lundy@eveningtimes.co.uk