Last updated at 17:33, Sunday, 02 December 2012

A FORMER Barrow AFC player has pleaded guilty to being part of a drugs plot.

Andy Ferrell admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and amphetamines during an appearance at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

Ferrell, 28, of Adair Avenue, Newcastle, was one of a number of people held in raids in October, when between £1.5m and £1.7m worth of drugs were seized.

Ferrell is a graduate of the Newcastle United Academy, and hours before police swooped to arrest him, he was scoring for Northern League side Bedlington Terriers in their 4-2 home win over West Auckland.

Ferrell was released from Newcastle at the end of the 2003/04 season.

He first joined Barrow AFC on loan from Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Gateshead in March 2011.

The central midfielder played eight times and scored twice during a one-month loan stay at Holker Street, helping the Bluebirds beat the threat of relegation.

He was released by Gateshead that summer and signed a one-year contract with Barrow. The Bluebirds released Ferrell at the end of last season.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and amphetamines and will be sentenced at a later date.

Some of the drug dealings took place during Ferrell’s second spell at Barrow.

Ferrell was one of 19 people arrested following raids in Newcastle.

Yesterday he appeared in court alongside 14 other people charged in connection with drug related offences.

Five entered guilty pleas to charges ranging from supplying drugs to possession of firearms, three pleaded not guilty and a further six entered no plea.

First published at 15:10, Sunday, 02 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk