FROME Town manager Nick Bunyard has been suspended from all football-related activity until July 2019 and fined £3,000 after breaching the FA’s betting rules.
Bunyard was hit with the sanction after having been found to have placed bets against teams he had managed.
Under the terms of the suspension, which officially came into force from April 19 this year, Bunyard must not attend any ground at which Frome are playing on a matchday at any level.
Bunyard, who took over at Badgers Hill last August before guiding the Robins to a 16th-placed finish in the Southern League Premier Division, had been internally suspended since April 8 after the club received notice of the FA’s investigation.
An Independent Regulatory Commission heard how Bunyard admitted misconduct in relation to 97 breaches of FA Rule E8(1)(a)(i), relating to betting activity between September 13, 2014 to April 9, 2016.
Of the 97 bets, 45 were placed against Paulton Rovers FC and Frome Town FC whilst he was manager of those clubs.
The Commission found not proven an FA charge that he had allegedly breached a post-charge Interim Suspension Order which was imposed on him on June 24, 2016.
In Bunyard's absence, assistant manager Josh Jefferies has taken charge of the Robins, who currently lie eighth in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division.
Frome Town are expected to react more fully in a statement today, but said last night: "In a hearing at Wembley Stadium yesterday Nick Bunyard was charged with gambling offences by the Football Association, he admitted these and has subsequently been banned from football as we understand it until July 2019.
"As a Club we have yet to receive official confirmation which we were advised will “go live” on the FA website somewhere around 5pm.
"We have been prevented from making a public comment until after the FA information is released.
"We are, needless to say, disappointed with this outcome and will provide a full statement tomorrow after due consideration of the report.''
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here