Braintree sign Emmanuel-Thomas after jail term

National League Braintree Town have announced the signing of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and put him straight into the matchday squad to play Truro City, five months after he was released from jail for smuggling drugs.

Chairman Lee Harding told BBC Essex the former Arsenal and Ipswich Town striker had "repaid his debt to society" as he signed an undisclosed contract after a brief spell with AFC Totton.

Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, served more than 10 months of a four-year sentence, having been jailed for masterminding the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis.

Braintree's manager Steve Pitt revealed he had been talking to the striker's agent while Emmanuel-Thomas was still in custody but "hadn't felt the timing worked".

Pitt said: "Having spoken to Jimmy Ball at AFC Totton a few weeks ago and knowing that the boy was looking to relocate, [I] decided to have a look at Jay.

"Myself and Dugs (assistant manager Karl Duguid) feel he still has a lot to offer and look forward to him contributing to our quest to stay in the National League."

Braintree are 22nd in the table and host relegation rivals Truro this afternoon (15:03 GMT), with Emmanuel-Thomas named as a substitute.