Partridge, 27, was sentenced to two months in prison for causing actual bodily harm during the fight in October 2005, while City colleagues Steve Brooker, 25, and Bradley Orr, 23, were both given 28-day jail sentences.

A fourth City player Scott Brown, 21, was ordered to do 100 hours of community punishment as a result of the clash outside Romeo Browns nightclub in Bristol city centre.

Partridge, currently on loan at League One Leyton Orient, was also ordered to pay a thousand pounds compensation to bystander Andrew Rowley, who he hit during the fracas.

The players were said to have been drinking for eight hours when Partridge became involved in a fight with the nightclub's bouncers after they had ejected him for spilling his drink over a woman customer.

A Bristol City statement on the League One club's website hinted they may appeal against the verdicts.

The statement said: "The club is very disappointed by the judgement and, together with the players and their legal advisors, will be looking at all the options available to them."