FORMER Hereford United and Kidderminster Harriers player Andy Ferrell has been locked up for his role in a major drug-dealing gang.

He was one of 10 people to be jailed after a long-running investigation to tackle drug dealing and organised criminals in Newcastle.

Andrew Ferrell, 28, of Adair Avenue in Newcastle, worked as a taxi driver and was a courier and supplier. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and cocaine. He was jailed for a total of 4 years.

Andy Ferrell played for the Bulls during 2005 and 2007 and was part of the team that got promoted to the Football League in 2006. He went on to play for Harriers from 2007-2009. Ferrell had been playing for Northern League Division One side Bedlington Terriers at the time of his arrest.

Ferrell was jailed with 9 others, including the leader of the gang Lawrence Flanagan, 45 who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply both class A and class B drugs, and was jailed for eight years.