Four footballers accused of sexually assaulting a teenage woman are to face a second trial at the Old Bailey days before Albion could face key promotion games.
A date has been set for Albion players Lewis Dunk, Anton Rodgers and George Barker and former Seagull Steve Cook to stand trial for a second time accused of sexual assault.
A jury at the Old Bailey last week failed to reach verdicts on whether the players assaulted the young woman at the Jurys Inn in Stroudley Road, Brighton, on the night of July 16 2011.
Rodgers, Barker and Cook will also be retried for voyeurism. Dunk was found not guilty of voyeurism.
The retrial will begin on May 6 just two days after Albion’s last match of the season, but could come as the club prepares for the crucial Championship play- offs on May 11 and 16.
The four players are accused of assaulting an unconscious 19- year-old girl in a hotel room after a night out celebrating the first match at the newly-opened American Express Community Stadium.
During the first trial both Rodgers and Barker admitted exposing themselves while Dunk and Cook said they were in the room at the time but did nothing to stop their teammates.
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