A NORTH-EAST Premiership footballer was condemned last night for failing to answer a drink-driving charge - because he is looking for a new team.

Yesterday was the fifth time that former French international Lilian Laslandes, 30, was supposed to have appeared before Newcastle magistrates, following his arrest in the city.

The Sunderland striker is accused of driving with 185mg of alcohol to 100ml of blood.

But the chairman of the Newcastle bench heard how Laslandes could not attend.

The reason? He was hoping to find a new club in Europe before the start of next season.

Magistrates rejected a defence application to deal with the case in Laslandes' absence.

Jonathan Dunkley, defending, said Laslandes remained under contract with Sunderland FC.

Mr Dunkley said: "During the course of the past season he was put on transfer list and has been told by the club that he does not feature strongly as far as plans for the coming season are concerned.

"Sunderland Football Club have given him permission to go and seek a future elsewhere.

"There is a very pressing need, as far as he is concerned, to get himself sorted out before the next season starts next month."

Mr Dunkley added that Laslandes had conveyed his "considerable regret" at not attending the court hearing.

However, he had been committed by his agent to going to see a club in Portugal and more in France to get a new job.

Magistrates ruled that, because Laslandes might return to Britain on holiday, the court had to be satisfied that he knew he had been disqualified.

The French striker was signed for £3.6m but flopped on Wearside.

He was transfer-listed by the club last month although his agent had been seeking a move for some time before that.

Campaign Against Drink Driving spokesman Maria Cape said last night: "We are pleased magistrates have insisted he appear in court. Looking for a new team is a ridiculous excuse.

"There is not much they can do if he doesn't appear, but ban him. And he will still be able to drive in Europe.

"The drink-driving limits in Europe are lower. The UK should make their laws uniform and driving bans should apply equally."

The case was adjourned by magistrates until July 8.