ACCRINGTON Stanley full back Peter Cavanagh has been banned for eight months after being found guilty of FA betting charges.

Cavanagh, previously the club captain, had been charged with placing a £5 accumulator that including betting on Bury to beat Stanley in May 2008, as well as betting on another match involving the Reds and further League Two matches.

It is not yet clear whether he has been found guilty of all of those charges.

Former Stanley players Robbie Williams, Jay Harris, David Mannix and Andy Mangan had already been found guilty of betting on Bury to beat the Reds in 2008.

Cavanagh's hearing had been delayed until yesterday and the news has now dashed Stanley's hopes of playing last year's club captain in today's opening game of the League Two season at Rotherham United.

All five players may now consider appeals against the FA verdict.

There will be more on this story in Monday's Lancashire Telegraph.