Keeper denies blackmail

A FORMER Oldham footballer has denied blackmailing a top Premier League player.

At a plea and case management hearing at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, goalkeeper Ashley Timms (22), of Middleton, pleaded not guilty to demanding £15,000 from the unnamed star.

He is charged with making an unwarranted demand for money from the player with menaces between March and April last year.

Timms was a triallist with Latics reserves in February, 2007, and has played for Mossley and Curzon Ashton.

Judge Andrew Gilbart QC set a trial date for August 11 and upheld a previous ruling by magistrates that the Premier League player could not be named.

Timms was granted an extension of his bail and ordered to report to a police station twice a week. He was also ordered not to have contact with a prosecution witness.