A FORMER Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper and the club's chief coach both failed breathalyser tests on the same night, a court was told.

And one of them, former coach Ian Porterfield, could face a jail sentence because of the high breath test reading and because it was his third drink driving offence.

Former Wanderers' goalkeeper David Felgate was arrested in a separate incident in Bolton on the same night. He was fined and banned from driving for a year.

Porterfield, aged 50, of Bagshot, Surrey, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol on Bradshawgate, Bolton, on May 4.

Miss Claire Rees, prosecuting, told Bolton magistrates that at 1.15am Porterfield drove through the Deansgate/Bradshawgate junction with his headlights at full beam. The police followed him and when he was stopped he gave a breath test reading of 91.

She added that he had been convicted in 1988 of failing to give a breath sample and in 1991 he had been disqualified from driving for four years for an excess alcohol offence. Mr Joe Egan, defending, said Porterfield had been under contract to the Wanderers from January to try and help the club avoid relegation and had been living at the Moat house Hotel.

He added that at the end of the season, despite a revival, the Wanderers were relegated.

Mr Egan said that on the day before he was stopped by the police, Porterfield had been to a training session at the club and at 7pm he had a pasta meal with a bottle of wine. Later, at 10pm, he was in the reception area of the hotel when he was recognised by Bolton fans and had several halves of beer with them.

Mr Egan said afterwards Porterfield was hungry and because he "felt okay to drive" set off for a late night food takeaway on Bradshawgate when he was stopped.

Mr Egan said that Porterfield had previous coaching jobs with Chelsea, Reading and the Zambia National side, and had also worked in Saudi, but he was now unemployed.

He said:" "His position with the Wanderers has now gone."

Porterfield was bailed for a probationary report to contain all sentencing options including custody and he was ordered not to drive before the next hearing on June 14.

In a separate court, former Wanderers goalkeeper David Felgate pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and speeding. Mr John Collier, prosecuting, said at 10.10pm on May 4, police with Vascar speed measuring equipment stopped Felgate for travelling at 44.32 mph while in a 30 mph zone on Bradford Road.

They followed him and when he was stopped he failed a roadside test just 20 yards from his home in Crescent Road, Great Lever. When he was arrested he gave a breath test reading of 64.

Felgate, aged 36, said on May 4 he had played his last game for Wigan.

He added: "I usually go home but we had just missed out on promotion and I stayed talking. I was driving within my capabilities. It was the first and last time."

Felgate said he had been a professional footballer for 18 years and had received training to start a new career as a financial adviser. He supplied a reference from Bolton Wanderers' president Nat Lofthouse which described Felgate as being "of exemplary character" and "a role model for young people".

Felgate was fined £240 with £45 costs and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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