The troubled life and times of Stan Collymore took yet another downward twist yesterday as the striker was banned for three matches for stamping on Paul Gascoigne.

Although the offence was committed while Collymore was playing for Leicester in September, he will have to miss three games for his new club Bradford from December 18th.

It means Bradford boss Jim Jefferies will be deprived of Collymore when the side take on Chelsea, Sunderland and Liverpool over the Christmas period.

Collymore was charged by the FA after appearing to stamp on Gascoigne, as well as using his elbow, in a clash between the two stars in a Premiership game between Leicester and Everton on September 24th.

The incident was missed by referee Alan Wiley, but was reviewed by the FA's newly-introduced video advisory panel, which recommended disciplinary action should be taken.

Collymore (29), who moved to Bradford shortly after the incident, attended a personal hearing in London yesterday, but left afterwards via a back door without making any public comment.

The timing of this ban means that the new Bradford boss may just about manage to include Collymore in his plans before he is promptly suspended.