Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean’s legal team may claim someone spiked his drink on the day he was arrested for drink driving.

The 43-year-old yesterday pleaded not guilty to a charge of being almost twice over the limit.

Kean appeared at Crewe Magistrates’ Court for a hearing which lasted 15 minutes.

He was represented by Nick Flanagan, of Freemans Solicitors.

The legal firm is known for its director Nick Freeman, who specialises in helping celebrities and figures from the sporting world fight motoring offence allegations.

Mr Flanagan told the bench that he would be challenging the intoxication reading procedure on the grounds that the two separate tests were taken too far apart.

He also told the court that the defence were waiting on medical reports which could provide expert evidence for a ‘spiked or laced drink argument’.

It was not said where or when Kean alleges his drink was spiked.

Kean was stopped on the M6 at Allostock in Cheshire on May 14 - hours after his side had drawn 1-1 at home to Manchester United.

He was driving his Mercedes E250 when he was stopped around 8.50pm between junctions 18 and 19 heading southbound.

It is alleged that Kean registered 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath at a roadside test. The legal limit is 35.

He was held at Cheshire Police but was released hours later.

Kean arrived at court in a smart grey suit with many of the other defendants inside the building recognising the Scot.

He had been sitting in the public gallery in court number two alongside members of the press during the preceding hearing, with his hands clasped.

When summoned to appear as the defendant, Kean stood to the side of the court, in front of the glass dock, with his hands behind his back.

He spoke to confirm his address as Weybridge, Surrey.

As the court decided on a date for trial, Kean was asked when the new season started and replied ‘August 22’.

He will now face a one-day trial at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 15 - less than a week before the new campaign kicks off.

On his way out of court Kean declined to comment to the Lancashire Telegraph.

Following his arrest and charge last month, he flew out to India for a pre-arranged meeting with the club’s owners Venky’s.

Freeman Solcitors’ high profile successes include Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson who escaped punishment for driving on the motorway hard shoulder by claiming he had a particularly bad case of diarrhoea.

The firm also successfully defended Jeremy Clarkson, the Top Gear presenter, Dwight Yorke and cricketer Andrew Flintoff.

Blackburn Rovers declined to comment on an ongoing police matter.

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