TWO Accrington Stanley players have apologised for their part in a nightclub brawl involving Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

Midfielder Robert Grant, 19, and goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin, 28, received 18-week suspended prison sentences after they admitted punching Marcus McGee in the Lounge Inn, Southport.

The pair had been out with Gerrard when he became involved in a dispute with Mr McGee when he refused to allow him to change the music in the club.

Gerrard was cleared of assault after a jury accepted he was acting in self-defence when he hit Mr McGee but Grant and Dunbavin pleaded guilty to affray.

Speaking on behalf of Grant and himself, Dunbavin said: “We would like to apologise to Accrington Stanley FC and the fans for the negative publicity our case has generated.

“We would like to thank all the people who have supported us through this sorry time. We are both deeply sorry for our actions and would like to put it behind us and be a part of a successful season for Accrington Stanley.”

Accrington Stanley chief executive Rob Heys said after the case that both players had been warned about their future conduct.

Three other man also admitted affray in relation to the incident and one man pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour. Grant and Dunbavin must also comp-lete 150 hours unpaid work.