Accrington Players Charged

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 07/04/2009

FIVE Accrington Stanley players have been charged with betting on their own team to lose in contravention of the FA betting rules. Players from Town's opponents on Saturday have been accused of betting thousands of pounds to throw the game in the final match of last season against Bury.

Four players then at Accrington (Jay Harris, David Mannix, Robert Williams and Peter Cavanagh) - and one player then at Bury (Andrew Mangan), have been charged.

Bookmakers are said to have stopped taking bets on the match after noticing unusual betting activity.

All five are likely to face suspensions if found guilty when their case is heard on 23rd April.

"All five are alleged to have placed bets on Bury to win this match," said an FA statement.

"Mannix is alleged to have placed stakes to the value of approximately £4,000; Mangan £3,500; Harris £2,000; Williams £1,000; and Cavanagh on a £5 accumulator."

Harris, who now plays for Chester City, has also been charged on betting on a game involving his new club, who are also in relegation trouble in League Two.

Grim Rob Says Never mind a ban, these players should have the book thrown at them. Many people reading this would have given anything to have been a professional footballer, and to betray your own supporters for money is scandalous, as well as against the regulations. Supporters give up huge parts of their lives and income to follow their team and it is incumbent upon players to give their utmost in every game, whoever they play for. As someone who also bets regularly on football I do so in the hope that the game is honest. If an example is made of these five players then it should hopefully deter others from going down the same route.

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