Former City star Michael Johnson is embarking on a new career - as the owner of a fine dining restaurant.

Plagued by injuries and off-field problems which ended with a double drink-drive conviction, the player quit football nearly two years ago after the Blues cancelled his contract.

Shocked fans bemoaned how such a promising career had come to an end at the age of 24.

But Mr Johnson, now 26, from Urmston, has launched a new career in business, as a director of NCompass Taverns Ltd.

It has infuriated some residents, but he has now won planning permission to open the company’s first cafe bar and restaurant in Didsbury.

(Image: Matt Ratcliffe)

At first planning chiefs refused his application for a ‘change of use’ for the two-storey property on Burton Road at the junction with Nell Lane, with residents objecting because of potential noise and disturbance within a conservation area.

The planning officer considering an appeal later ruled that any noise would not be ‘over and above any levels of noise and disturbance that currently exist’ as the parade already has two other restaurants, a cafe and takeaway.

The former player has now lined up Chris Horridge, a Michelin-starred chef, to create the menu and recruit staff.

Mr Johnson told the M.E.N. the residents had nothing to fear and emphasised he would not be working there.

He said: “I’m just a silent investor. I’m not the only one who’s going to have a stake in it. It’s a few people although my name is on the planning application.

“Certainly, I understand people will be worried but we are not going to be that type of place. We are not a nightclub. We’re doing high quality food - a pleasant place to be in a relaxing environment. I don’t want people to worry that there’s going to be any disturbance there because that’s not what we are about.”

He added: “You can have a career in football and life moves on. You have to do something. This opportunity came up in these circumstances. It’s a great road in a great area. It wasn’t an opportunity you could pass by really. In football terms, that’s the period in my life that’s been and gone. I’m just moving on with other things.”

In 2012 he was banned from the roads for three years after he was caught over the alcohol limit twice in three months.

He blew over the limit when his black Mercedes CLS 350 was spotted breaking a 40mph speed limit in Manchester city centre.

While on police bail, he ploughed his Mercedes into a parked BMW X5 near his home in Urmston.

He was fined £5,500 and banned from driving for three years.

City paid up his contract in December, 2012, bringing a promising football career to a close.

He told the M.E.N. at the time he had been attending the Priory Clinic for a number of years ‘with regard to my mental health’ and he asked to be ‘left alone’ to live the rest of his life.