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Gillespie's football career was marred by off-field problems. PA Archive/Press Association Images
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Update: Former United star Keith Gillespie appears in court after warrant issued for his arrest

The 39-year-old failed to show up for court after he had been accused of breaching a non-molestation order.

Updated at 13.57

EX-MANCHESTER UNITED and Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie has appeared in court after a warrant was issued for his arrest, due to the former Northern Ireland and Manchester United footballer initially failing to turn up for his scheduled appearance.

The 39-year-old, who also had spells at a number of other clubs over the course of his career, including Newcastle, Blackburn and Longford Town, had been accused of breaching a non-molestation order.

Gillespie’s failure to show up at Newtownards Magistrates Court prompted District Judge Mark Hamill to issue the warrant for his arrest.

The Antrim native was regarded as a talented winger on his day, breaking into the Manchester United first-team as a teenager and subsequently delivering a series of eye-catching performances that caused critics to draw comparisons with George Best, among other prodigious stars.

Nevertheless, his on-field talents were invariably offset by problems away from the game.

Gillespie developed a gambling addiction during his time as a footballer and was eventually declared bankrupt in 2010.

He subsequently released an autobiography, How Not to be a Football Millionaire — an honest depiction of his struggles to cope with the pressures of fame — which was published last year amid critical acclaim.

During an interview with TheScore.ie back in November, Gillespie spoke of having undergone therapy to address his problems and claimed to be a happier person as a result, adding:

“It was very therapeutic writing the book, because everything’s out there and I wanted the credibility of everything being out there — people reading it and knowing there’s nothing missing.”

More to follow

Keith Gillespie: How I lost £8million>

Sunderland captain O’Shea follows winning footsteps of Keane, Carr and Whelan

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