Former football star Frank McAvennie was given a four-month suspended jail sentence yesterday after he admitted fighting outside a bar on the Isle of Man.

The ex-Scotland, Celtic, Cliftonville and West Ham United striker headbutted a man outside the Aperitivo wine bar in Loch Promenade, Douglas, on the evening of July 4.

The High Bailiffs’ Court in Douglas heard that McAvennie asked security guards to remove local man Ian Moffitt (23) from the bar as he felt threatened by him.

Sergeant John Manley told the court the two men then clashed on the street “first with words, then pushing each other and throwing ineffectual punches” before McAvennie head-butted Mr Moffitt.

McAvennie was on the island to take part in a Manchester United versus Liverpool legends charity match at the Bowl sports stadium, but missed the game following his arrest. McAvennie’s advocate, Jerry Carter, said the footballer had not intended violence and was provoked.

He said: “The defendant called security staff to have Mr Moffitt removed, and has accepted that he over-reacted and used too much force but he clearly felt he was threatened at the time.

“These are not the actions of someone who was out looking for trouble, but someone who felt he was on the horns of a dilemma and was trying to deal with it.”

High Bailiff Michael Moyle sentenced McAvennie to four months in prison, suspended for a period of two years, ordered him to pay court costs of £113.70 and said he was not to be permanently excluded from the island.

The court heard that Mr Moffitt and McAvennie were involved in an altercation earlier in the day and met again in the bar at around 11.30pm.

Glasgow-born McAvennie (48), who now lives in Newcastle and works as a football agent, tried to employ his usual “coping strategy” when faced with difficult fans, but was unable to walk away, the court heard. Passing sentence the judge said: “It is somewhat ironic that you used to be a striker: Mr Moffitt might take the view that you still are.”