Brentford Football Club today denied reports that a convicted murderer had played for the club.

The national press widely reported that Mario Celaire, 31, who beat his 19-year-old girlfriend to death, had been a former professional footballer and had played for Brentford FC.

However, a spokesman for the club today condemned press reports that said Celaire had played there - and said there was "absolutely no link" between the killer and the club.

Celaire, who changed his name to Mario McNish, yesterday became the first person to be convicted of a crime that a jury had already acquitted him of.

He admitted beating Cassandra McDermott to death, seven years after he was found not guilty.

He will be sentenced in July.