Probe into 'unusual' Accrington Stanley betting

3:22pm Sunday 4th May 2008

A FOOTBALL Association probe is underway after 'unusually large' wagers prompted some bookmakers to stop taking bets before Accrington Stanley's 2-0 defeat by Bury.

The FA has pledged to "look very closely" at at the game after "an unusual amount of money" was placed.

Match officials scheduled for the game at the Fraser Eagle Stadium were changed on Friday as a precaution.

Stanley chairman Eric Whalley warned that if "any of our lads have been involved, be it players or staff they will be out the door quicker than Jack Flash".

But he stressed: "Even though the result went with the people who put all this money on, it was certainly nothing to do with us.

"We changed the officials and the Football League wanted me to have a word with my manager to make sure he wasn't aware of anything that was going on.

"Anyone who watched that game couldn't fault us for a lack of effort.

"We have not worked as hard as we have to get where we are for people at the club to be making money off us losing."

Both William Hill and Coral closed their book on the League Two game.

Graham Sharpe of William Hill told a national Sunday newspaer that they saw substantial money on Bury to win and this continued unabated even after the price was shortened four times.

David Stevens of Coral said the firm stopped taking bets after taking "an unusual amount of money for a game of that magnitude".

But Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said his firm had no concerns.

He said: "There was a lot of trading, but it was a game that was on everybody's lips after being featured in the Racing Post.

"We have an arrangement where we do supply information to the FA if we feel it is necessary, but I don't see us volunteering information on this match because we are not concerned about it.

"However, if the FA come to us, we will happily assist them."

FA director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "This was a very unusual betting pattern. If the allegations are true. We were made aware of the situation on Friday.

"We will look very closely at the information bookmakers provide and take any subsequent action with the Football League and the two clubs concerned."

Stanley chief executive Rob Heys vowed the club will "investigate it fully".

He said: "At this moment in time we have no evidence to suggest any wrongdoing.

"We are going to investigate it fully and any wrongdoing will be severely dealt with."

Stanley manager John Coleman added: "There's no proof. We could see out there that we wanted to win the game."

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