A man has denied cheating West Ham players and staff out of thousands of pounds.

Thirteen people linked to the club, including former manager Sam Allardyce, allegedly paid a total of £7,310 to Stephen Ackerman in December 2014, with the promise of goods that were never delivered.

The 47-year-old, of Hillcroft, Loughton, Essex, denied 13 counts of fraud at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday last week.

Judge David Radford, the Recorder of Redbridge, set a trial date for Monday, July 18, to avoid clashing with the European Championships and the start of the new football season.

A number of current players, including England striker Andy Carroll and Leyton Orient’s new player-manager, Kevin Nolan, are among those set to give evidence.

The charges state that Ackerman had committed fraud by acting “dishonestly” and “intending” to “make a gain for himself or another”.

It states that he made a false representation by claiming he was in possession of goods which would be delivered in return for payment.

Ackerman was unconditionally bailed ahead of a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, June 17.