JIMMY Bell may attempt to persuade Accrington Stanley to bring back Peter Cavanagh once the former skipper has served an eight-month ban from football.

Cavanagh was banned during the summer after being found guilty of placing a £5 accumulator on Bury to beat the Reds ahead of a League Two fixture at the Crown Ground in May 2008, which the Shakers won 2-0.

The 27-year-old, who had spent eight years with Stanley, opted to appeal but last week found out that he had been unsuccessful.

Despite being out of contract, Cavanagh had remained with the squad until his ban, which prevents him from training with a football club until April.

And Bell, who has long insisted that Cavanagh is innocent after Stanley’s former skipper claimed his brother had placed the bet in his online account, believes the full back should be allowed to return to the club once he has served his ban.

“It’s like anything else, he will have served his time,” said the Stanley assistant manager. “As far as I am concerned I would have him back but I know there would be a lot of politics involved if we were to consider it.

“It’s a long way away and we’ll address it at the time.

“He’s made a silly mistake, if he has, because his brother has put a £5 bet on.

“If he keeps himself in shape I think he deserves another chance after what he did for the club.”

Any move to bring Cavanagh back could face opposition, though, from fans upset that he was found guilty of betting against his own club.