Scottish footballer 'in drugs conspiracy'

The former Scottish international footballer Frank McAvennie was part of a four-man conspiracy planning to deal more than £110,000 worth of ecstasy and amphetamines, a court was told yesterday.

The former Scottish international footballer Frank McAvennie was part of a four-man conspiracy planning to deal more than £110,000 worth of ecstasy and amphetamines, a court was told yesterday.

The former Celtic and West Ham United player was seen by plain-clothes detectives with fellow conspirators as they collected the drugs from a house in Newcastle upon Tyne before transporting them by train to Glasgow, Stephen Duffield, for the prosecution, told Newcastle Crown Court.

Mr McAvennie, 40, of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, was found to have a small amount of cocaine in his possession when he was arrested by national crime squad detectives on 23 March, Mr Duffield said.

Mr McAvennie has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to supply amphetamines and ecstasy. He appeared alongside Arthur Burke, 46, of West Denton, Newcastle, who pleaded not guilty to the same offences.

Mr Duffield said that detectives had observed Vincent Wallace travelling by train from Glasgow to Newcastle where he was met by Mr McAvennie and Michael Edward.The detectives observed Mr Edward collecting a package from the home of Arthur Burke and then Mr Wallace being taken back to Newcastle station. He was arrested on his return to Glasgow

Mr Duffield said that during the trial, which is scheduled to last two weeks, the jury would hear that Mr McAvennie would claim he knew nothing about the drugs deal and had only met his friend, Mr Edward, in order to play golf.

The hearing was adjourned until this morning.