Ex-Liverpool footballer, 46, who was praised by Jamie Carragher & played with Michael Owen now faces jail over drug plot

A FORMER Liverpool FC footballer, 46, who was once praised by Jamie Carragher and played with Michael Owen now faces jail sentence over a drug plot.

Merseysider Jamie Cassidy, a hugely popular youth player, now faces a long prison sentence for his role in a major drug gang.

Alamy

Jamie Cassidy photographed when he signed for Cambridge United[/caption]

Cassidy, now 46, played alongside future stars Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen while playing for Liverpool’s youth team.

The talented group of players beat a West Ham team featuring Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.

The final took place a week after Liverpool’s famous ‘men in white suits’ final when the first team famously sported Armani clobber before the game. The reds were beaten thanks to an Eric Cantona strike.

But while Carragher and Owen went on to fulfil their potential, Cassidy’s was hampered by injury. After a stint with Cambridge United Cassidy he ended up playing non-league football.

In his 2008 autobiography, Carragher said Cassidy “would have been a certain Liverpool regular if he hadn’t suffered so much with injuries.”

Carragher, who went on to become a fans favourite at Anfield, recognised Cassidy’s lost potential in his autobiography.

The defender wrote: “Cassidy ‘would have been a certain Liverpool regular if he hadn’t suffered so much with injuries.”

Jamie Cassidy was arrested as part of the police penetration of an encrypted phone network used by criminals to sell drugs, supply firearms and organise violence.

During a hearing at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, Cassidy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to conceal ,disguise , convert or transfer criminal property.

His brother, Jonathan Cassidy, 50, admitted conspiracy to evade prohibition on Importation of Class A Drugs, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to conceal ,disguise , convert or transfer criminal property.

Nasar Ahmed ,51, pleaded guilty to the same three charges.

Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester, told Jamie Cassidy, “I’m quite sure that after more than three years in custody your anxiety is to know the sentence that you face.
You will not have much longer to wait for that to occur.”

The three men were remanded into custody.