Ex-footballer says he went to sex club with Tommy Sheridan

A FORMER footballer has claimed he went with Tommy Sheridan to an "unusual" club that had porn showing on televisions.

Gary Clark claimed he made the visit to Manchester about two weeks after his wife left him in September 2002.

The 46-year-old said he and Mr Sheridan, an old school friend, were joined by others, including Katrine Trolle, who earlier alleged she went to a sex club in the city with the men.

However, Mr Clark told a jury he was so ashamed of having been there he did not tell a lawyer when questioned last year.

Ex-MSP Mr Sheridan and his wife Gail are on trial accused of lying under oath during his libel case against the News of the World in 2006.

Mr Sheridan won 200,000 in damages after the Sunday tabloid printed allegations about his private life.

Mr Clark - who played for Falkirk and Hamilton amongst others - was yesterday giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow.

He told how he got to know Mr Sheridan when they were growing up in the city's Pollok area. They lost touch after leaving school, but Mr Clark got back in contact while Mr Sheridan was in jail for "defending his principles".

The pair renewed their friendship and socialised with their wives and other friends, including SSP members Keith Baldassara and George McNeilage.

Mr Clark told the court how his wife left him on his birthday on 13 September, 2002.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice asked: "How did you behave?"

He told how he went to a club with Sheridan where porn was showing on TV monitors. "It was not Tom and Jerry," he said.

Three SSP colleagues who previously gave evidence in the trial were also recalled for Mr Sheridan to question yesterday.

Mr Sheridan accused former MSP Carolyn Leckie of not liking the credit and the "limelight" he got for the party's success.

Mr Sheridan also questioned her about a sworn statement her partner and fellow party member Alan McCombes had given to a newspaper in November 2004.

This was an account of a meeting in which it is claimed Mr Sheridan admitted going to a swingers club.

Miss Leckie said she had been aware Mr McCombes was going to "brief" a newspaper "off the record".

Miss Leckie added: "I thought it was a good idea. We were frightened that we would be blamed for covering up for you."

She also denied his claims that she and Mr McCombes would benefit if Mr Sheridan was jailed.

The Sheridans - both 46 - deny the perjury charge.

Mr Sheridan also denies that he asked SSP colleague Colin Fox to lie for him during the case against the News of the World. The trial, before judge Lord Bracadale, continues