A FORMER Blackburn Rovers footballer will appear in court next month to appeal a driving ban and conviction.

Leon Best, who spent an ill-fated three years at Ewood, was found guilty of failing to give police information about the identification of a driver of a Tesla at their force headquarters in Winfrith Newburgh on April 11, 2020.

Following a trial at Poole Magistrates' Court on Friday, August 27, Best was issued a six-month driving ban due to 'repeat offending' and was ordered to pay a £660 fine, £620 in court costs and £66 victim surcharge.

Best arrived to Rovers on a lucrative contract when signing from Newcastle United following relegation to the Championship in 2012 but left in November 2015 after scoring just twice.

He made only 16 appearances for Rovers in that time, and factoring in his £3m transfer fee and £30,000 wages, he cost the club just short of £700,000 for every appearance made.

Prosecuting the case, Oliver Foy said that Best had issued an immediate appeal to the conviction after the trial’s concussion and his sentencing as a result has been postponed.

He added Best, who did not appear in court, is likely to appeal the conviction on grounds of exceptional circumstances, The Lancashire Telegraph’s sister title the Dorset Echo reported.

The striker was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Brighton & Hove Albion during his time as a Rovers player, later snapped up by Rotherham United after leaving the club via mutual consent in November 2015.

Best, who turned 35 last week, hasn't had a club since his time with Charlton Athletic ended following a short stay in the 2017/18 season.