Clarets legend Andy Payton has admitted not paying his council tax for the last four years.

The former Burnley striker appeared in court after running up an unpaid bill of £5,700.

Father-of-three Payton, 44, apologised and has now set up a £100-a-week payment plan after being warned that he faced jail if he did not settle the debt.

Payton said he has not been paying the council tax because of a ‘breakdown in communication’.

The bill and costs came to a total of £5,757.07, dating back to May 2007.

Payton said he had not realised that the bill was not being paid.

He will be given a suspended prison sentence if he fails to make repayments.

But said the debt had come about because of a “breakdown in communication” and that once he found out about it he made the effort to set up a repayment plan and clear the balance.

The council tax prosecution was brought by Burnley Council.

Caroline Lee, head of revenues and benefits at Burnley Council, said: “The vast majority of people pay their council tax and quite rightly they expect the council to take action against those who don’t.

“Burnley Council will do its utmost to recover unpaid council tax to help fund services for all its residents.”

Nicknamed the Padiham Predator because of his goalscoring exploits, Payton scored 81 goals for the Clarets in 176 games.

As a schoolboy he was released by Burnley, the club he supported as a boy, before achieving his dream and resigning for the club in 1998.

He also played for Hull City, Middlesbrough, Celtic, Barnsley, Huddersfield and Blackpool.

Payton has recently completed his autobiography, Living the Dream, which will be released next month.

The book will be sold for £14.99, with £1 from every sale going to the Alzheimers Society.

He recently made his first foray into coaching and management when he took over at East Lancashire League side Burnley Grammar School Old Boys.