FOOTBALL World - the publishers of EX magazine - is delighted to announce a major deal with former West Ham star Mark Ward to publish his compelling new autobiography. MARK WARD - FROM RIGHT-WING TO B-WING . . . PREMIER LEAGUE TO PRISON will go on sale soon after his release from prison in May 2009.

Ward, now 46, starred on the right-wing for Oldham Athletic, West Ham United, Manchester City, Everton and Birmingham City during the 80s and early 90s before he fell on hard times and landed himself in deep trouble. Or, in the words of one of his chapter headings: 'Up To My Neck'.

He rented a property near his home city of Liverpool on behalf of a contact, but police raided the premises in May 2005 and found a stash of cocaine with a street value of £645,000 and what was later described in court as "a drugs factory."

Although Mark never lived at the address and only visited there occasionally, he was arrested and later charged with possessing a class A drug with intent to supply, He has steadfastly refused to grass on his associates and has spent the last four years serving a jail sentence.

EX mag editor Tony McDonald, who has known Mark for more than 20 years, since 'Wardy' featured in West Ham's record-breaking 1985-86 team, said: "Mark is now full of remorse for his crime and has served his time like a man. He was originally sentence to eight years but, as a model prisoner, he is due to be released on licence having served four years.

"He wants to put his nightmare experiences, including a horrible eight months spent on remand in B-Wing of Liverpool's notorious Walton jail, behind him. He is now determined to rebuild his life and, obviously, that process continues when he is released from open prison in May.

"I have kept in constant touch with Mark in the past few years, via letters and several face-to-face meetings, and we agreed some time ago that Football World would publish his life story following his release from prison.

"It's a riveting story, full of the highs and lows you would expect from a player who played for four major clubs before his world fell apart in the most awful circumstances. But it's much, much more than a book about a former footballer.

"Wardy is a spiky, emotional character, someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and has always said what is on his mind ­ even if that frank approach to life has led him into more than a few serious scrapes through the years. His book will reflect those personal traits and their consequences. He didn't want to hold back ­ - and he doesn't ­ - but he didn't want this to be just another ex-footballer's boring autobiography either.

"The writing process has helped him to cope with being locked up in a cell and I must say his words are full of raw emotion, liberally laced with Scouse humour and a natural ability to tell it like it is. This (hardback) book will appeal not only to fans of the clubs he represented, but to a much wider audience who can relate to human interest stories and a tortured soul laid bare."

MARK WARD ­- From Right-Wing to B-Wing . . . Premier League to Prison will be published on May 30, 2009. The cover price will be £17.99 but anyone ordering direct from us at Football World will make a saving of £3.00 (post-free in UK) and each copy purchased from us will be personally signed by Mark himself.

You can order your hardback copy in advance of publication date to ensure you are among the first to read what promises to be a compelling bestseller.

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