KIDDERMINSTER Harriers footballer Neil Mackenzie has been cleared of threatening and being racist to an Asian taxi driver.

Midfielder Mackenzie was alleged to have been threatening and abusive to Abdul Malik, calling him racist names and saying he would smash his head in.

Although Cambridge magistrates dubbed it a disgraceful incident, they had doubts on the racial aspect of the claim and acquitted the player.

Harriers manager Jan Molby was pleased at the verdict and agreed it vindicated his decision to sign Mackenzie, who joined the club three weeks after the incident.

He said: "We discussed it when Neil came to the club and I was satisfied there would not be a problem.

"It's never easy when you have something like that hanging over you, especially when you feel you are innocent but still have to stand up in court.

"It's bound to affect you. Neil has had a dip in form recently but he has been an important player for us.

"He has been cleared and now we need him back playing."

Mackenzie, who has missed Harriers last two league games with a knee injury, is in contention for Saturday's Division Three match at Macclesfield.

Cambridge Magistrates Court heard Mackenzie, 24, was returning home from a night out at Fez nightclub, Cambridge, with a friend and team-mate on November 2.

George Keightley, prosecuting, said Mackenzie, who played for Cambridge United at the time, drank eight pints of lager and teased the taxi driver about not paying the £5.50 fare before the two men got into an argument.

Mr Keightley alleged Mackenzie was threatening and abusive towards Mr Malik, calling him racist names and telling him he would "smash his head in".

Mackenzie denied the charge.

He said: "I got loud but I didn't get aggressive.

"I play with footballers day in and day out who are Asian and black and I would have a lot of problems if I used racist language."

Mackenzie, of Beechwood Road, Warley, had his Cambridge contract cancelled shortly before he was signed by Harriers for what the Nationwide League Division Two club described as "persistent misconduct".

Mackenzie declined to comment about the case.