Former Ipswich Town footballer Marcus Bent has admitted possessing cocaine.

Bent, aged 37, appeared at Guildford Crown Court today facing four charges stemming from an incident on September 13.

Wearing a navy suit, tie and white shirt, he denied charges of affray and possessing bladed articles, namely a meat cleaver and kitchen knife.

But the ex-Everton, Ipswich and Charlton striker entered a plea of guilty to one count of possessing a class A drug – cocaine.

Judge Roger Climie adjourned the case until January 13 and Bent, from Esher, Surrey, was released on unconditional bail.

Striker Bent joined Ipswich in 2001 when the club was in the Premier League.

They paid Blackburn Rovers a fee of £3million for his services and went on to make 61 appearances for the Blues, scoring 21 goals.

He remained at the club despite relegation at the end of the season but went on loan to Leicester in the 2003-04 campaign before being sold to Everton for less than £500,000.