Soccer player has brain op

Allan Ashdown, 25, a player with Seaford Football Club, was discovered in a playground at the Beachy Head Hotel, near the clifftop beauty spot. It remains a mystery how he came by his injuries.

Detectives are pinning their hopes on him regaining consciousness to find out what happened.

Allan, who lives in Newhaven, has undergone emergency surgery for a blood clot on the brain and treatment for a broken jaw and nose at hospital in London. Until Friday he was on a life support machine. His condition is described as stable.

Jon Holmes, assistant manager of Seaford Football Club, said Allan's parents had been at his bedside in the intensive care unit.

'It has been a big shock to his family and friends and there is also the frustration of not knowing what happened and when he is going to get better,' he said.

Son

Allan, who is single and has a five-year-old son called Callum, was last seen in Seaford on Sunday, January 19. He was found in the early hours of the following morning.

Friends said he was in good spirits as he drank in The Crown and The Beachcomber pubs in Seaford. Mr Holmes, who is also manager of The Crown, said: 'He seemed all right when I saw him on the Saturday and people who saw him on Sunday said he was chirpy and his usual self.'

A police spokeswoman said detectives had no new leads and were waiting for Allan to regain consciousness. She added: 'He is still very ill at the moment, it will be along recovery.'

Allan, a forward, was with Peacehaven FC before joining Seaford.

Readers who have any information about the incident can call police on 0845 6070999.