A RE-TRIAL will take place of a man accused of luring former Bolton Wanderers players into a luxury Christmas hamper scam and then stealing money from their bank accounts.

Former Whites player and manager Sam Allardyce was one of Stephen Ackerman’s alleged victims alongside ex-players Neil McDonald, Joey O’Brien and Kevin Nolan.

Ackerman was accused of posing as a salesman called ‘Mark Kingston’ and setting up a stall at West Ham United’s training ground in December 2014 to sell expensive champagne and hampers and then making unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts.

The 47-year-old, of Loughton, Essex, was standing trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London over 17 fraud charges – having been acquitted on one fraud count on the order of the judge.

Proceedings were brought to an abrupt halt when three of the 12 jurors were absent.

After discussion between the judge and counsel, the jury was discharged and a re-trial was ordered.

A pre-trial review will now take place on October 19 before a new trial begins at the same court on October 24.

The trial earlier heard Mr Allardyce is said to have lost £270 and then a further £13,000 in “unauthorised transactions”.

Mr McDonald was purportedly cheated out £60, Mr O’Brien £758 and Mr Nolan £180.

The remaining alleged victims are backroom staff and players at the east London football club.