"?Shamed footballer Adam Johnson is set to launch a second appeal against his conviction for sexual activity with a child, according to reports in the "?Mirror.
The former Sunderland winger pleaded guilty to grooming and sexual activity with his 15-year-old victim back in March, before then being convicted of a more serious offence of sexual activity with the minor, by a jury at Bradford Crown Court.
The 28-year-old was subsequently handed a six year jail sentence for his convictions.
Johnson had his first appeal rejected back in July, but has now launched another one in a bid to either reduce his current prison sentence, or completely overturn the conviction altogether.
When discovering his first appeal had been rejected, the 28-year-old was understood to be devastated.
Man jailed for harassing Adam Johnson's victim on Facebook https://t.co/07qmr71tsx
Regarding the failure to win his appeal back in the summer, his sister Faye issued this "?statement via social media: "He did not want it (the appeal) to come out at first.
"He looks better than he did, the initial worry of what it was going to be like in there has gone.
But now he knows he is not getting out any time soon.
"When the experts assessed him, he did not think what he was doing was wrong. And he just did not comprehend the consequences of his actions.
"Now he understands what it really means - he has lost everything."?
Despite the setback, Johnson and his lawyers have now submitted a new application to the Court of Appeal.
The Court confirmed Johnson's submission on Wednesday, saying: "The papers are going to a summary writer on the case before a date can be given for the hearing to take place."?