Pic: Greig Bertram/AGBPHOTO
SEVEN of National League North champions AFC Fylde's players are being probed for betting on football matches, The NLP can reveal.
The Football Association are investigating a host of the Coasters' stars which has thrown the club's plans for next season into disarray.
The governing body implemented strict guidelines three years ago which prohibited any player signing for a team playing in Step 4 on the Pyramid or above wagering money on matches.
The identity of the Fylde players has been kept under wraps but it is almost certain that those who are found to have bet on any games face hefty bans and fines.
The NLP understands that, although the accusations are serious, none of the charges will relate to games involving their own club.
Fylde chairman David Haythornthwaite last night confirmed Wembley chiefs were scrutinising a number of his players.
He revealed: “Yes, the club is at the moment under investigation, which has now completed with the players concerned.
“The last player was interviewed by the Football Association on Friday. We now await the outcome of their findings. Until that time, AFC Fylde are not in a position to comment any further on the matter.”
Today's revelations undermine manager Dave Challinor and his attempts to secure back-to-back promotions.
Ambitious Fylde, with the backing of millionaire owner Haythornthwaite, are determined to reach the Football League.
Challinor, 41, signed a new two-year contract at Mill Farm while the last of the club's seven suspects were being interviewed on Friday.
The severity of the accusations are at this point unclear, but the FA will take a dim view of any player found to have bet any amount of money on any level of the game.
Their officials declined the opportunity to speak about the matter when approached for comment yesterday. If and when charges are brought, they are sure to release written reasons to shed more light of their battle to safeguard the game's reputation.
In May, Burnley midfielder Joey Barton was given a potentially career-ending 18-month ban when he was found guilty of placing 1,260 bets on matches, including some against his own team – but denied doing so when he was actively involved in the match in question.
He was also fined £30,000 plus costs. He hit out at the FA for the length of the ban, angry at the “excessive” sanctions placed on him in comparison to cases of alleged racial abuse.
Manager Challinor has been rocked by the news that a high number of his players are in hot water but that wouldn't stop him putting pen to paper on a new contract.
“This has been in the offing for a while now and I'm delighted to get it sorted,” he told the club's official website.
“I always wanted my future to be here and it wasn't a difficult process. We have some big challenges ahead next season but I feel we are well prepared.”
Fylde and the rest of the National League clubs will discover on Wednesday their schedule for next season when an announcement confirms the 2017-18 fixtures for the three divisions.
