Ex-Arsenal striker sacked by club after being charged importing drugs in £600k plot

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who began his vocation arsenic a imaginable for Arsenal successful 1998, joined Scottish outfit Greenock Morton this summertime but the nine person terminated his declaration aft helium was charged implicit an alleged drugs plot

Former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been sacked by his nine Greenock Morton FC aft being charged by constabulary for allegedly trying to smuggle £600,000 of cannabis into the UK.

The 33-year-old was arrested by the National Crime Agency successful Gourock, Scotland, connected Wednesday earlier being charged with importing Class B drugs aft 60kg of cannabis were discovered wrong 2 suitcases aft arriving from Bangkok earlier this month.

Emmanuel-Thomas, who began his vocation arsenic a imaginable for Arsenal aft joining the club's academy successful 1998, joined Scottish Championship outfit Greenock Morton this summertime - with the nine present announcing they person terminated the player's contract.

In a little connection connected societal media, the nine wrote: "Greenock Morton FC tin corroborate that the declaration of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been terminated with contiguous effect. The nine volition beryllium making nary further remark connected the matter."

Emmanuel-Thomas appeared astatine Carlisle Magistrates Court connected Thursday and did not participate a plea but his lawyer said helium "strenuously" denied being progressive successful a crippled to bring drugs to the UK.

Two women aged 28 and 32 besides appeared astatine Chelmsford Magistrates Court and were fixed bail. They are acceptable to look astatine Chelmsford Crown Court connected October 1.

Emmanuel-Thomas has played for a succession of clubs during his vocation - playing erstwhile for his boyhood nine Arsenal and being loaned retired 3 times to Blackpool, Doncaster and Cardiff City.

He had arguably his astir palmy spells with Ipswich Town - wherever helium played from 2011 to 2013 - and Bristol City earlier moving his mode down the Football League and yet jetting retired to Thailand to play for PTT Rayong.

The guardant past had a drawstring of seasons successful Scotland arsenic helium turned retired for Livingston and Aberdeen earlier spells with Indian squad Jamshedpur and past returning to the UK to play for Kidderminister Harriers earlier this year.