SPFL star SACKED by club just hours after court appearance after being accused in £600,000 drugs plot
JAY EMMANUEL-THOMAS has had his Morton contract TERMINATED.
The Scottish Championship club have dismissed the striker just hours after he appeared in court accused of drug importation.
Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers earlier this week.
He was nicked after £600,000 worth of cannabis was found stashed in suitcases at a UK airport.
The former Arsenal frontman, nicknamed ‘JET’, was arrested on suspsicion of orchestrating the importation of cannabis through London Stansted Airport.
Emmanuel-Thomas was detained in Gourock yesterday morning in an operation supported by Police Scotland officers before being transported to Carlisle for questioning.
He subsequently appeared in front of a deputy district judge this afternoon and faces one charge of alleged drug importation, specifically that he was concerned in the fraudulent evasion of prohibition on the importation of a Class B drug – cannabis.
Court papers show the offence is alleged to have been committed on 2nd September this year in the London area.
During a 15-minute court hearing, Emmanuel-Thomas — who previously played for Aberdeen and Livingston — spoke clearly to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
No plea was entered to the charge when it was read to him by the court legal advisor on the instruction of his lawyer, Nathaniel Gadsby.
In the hours that followed, Greenock Morton released a statement confirming they were aware of the matter.
Just before 3pm, they said: “The club is aware of an ongoing matter relating to one of our first team players which has been publicised by various media outlets.
“The club is currently awaiting further information from the relevant bodies and due to the nature of the situation, we will be unable to make any comment beyond this statement at this time.”
But just four hours later, Morton announced they had AXED Emmanuel-Thomas.
In a brief statement on social media, the Championship outfit said: “Greenock Morton FC can confirm that the contract of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been terminated with immediate effect.
“The club will be making no further comment on the matter.”
Emmanuel-Thomas came through the youth ranks at Arsenal and went on to make five first team appearances for the Gunners.
After various loan spells, he moved permanently to Pswich Town in 2011 before going on to play for Bristol City and QPR.
After a spell in Thailand, Emmanuel-Thomas joined Livingston for the 2020/21 campaign and gained cult hero status.
After finding some form, he earned a move to Aberdeen but failed to score a single league goal during his sole campaign at Pittodrie.
After a spell in India and with non-league Kidderminster Harriers, he joined Morton this summer on a sixth-month deal.
That contract has, of course, now been terminated.
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