Accrington Stanley? Who are they? I don't know but here's 20 grand on them getting beat

Every now and then we all like a bet on the football.

Some have a punt on their own side, others to make the weekends action more interesting while there is a considerable few who take it much more seriously.

I occasionally stick a couple of quid on what score Burnley might win if they get their arses in gear or which player emblazed in Claret and Blue will pop up to score the first of what we all despairingly anticipate will be many for the afternoon.

But this week four players from Accrington Stanley and one from Bury have found themselves involved in a betting scandal.

No, they weren’t the ones who bet Claire Balding she wouldn’t make fun of that jockeys teeth during last weeks Grand National.

It’s all much more sinister than the harmless banter which saw over a thousand complaints and forced Balding into a grovelling apology.

Stanley club captain Peter Cavanagh, Jay Harris, David Mannix and Robbie Williams were charged with breaching FA rules on betting on their own team, along with Bury striker Andy Mangan, who incidentally used to play for Stanley.

Accrington went on to lose the match 2-0 against the Shakers on the final day of last season two nil.

The players have been accused of betting more than £10,000 on the game, although bizarrely and perhaps somewhat unfairly Cavanagh stands accused of sticking on a five pound accumulator.

Those found guilty will face lengthy bans for stupidly ignoring clear F.A rules.

The story goes much deeper than a bunch of players betting on a game they think they’ll lose for whatever reason.

In total Betfair said £281,000 in bets were placed on the match and that reducing odds prior to the game did not stop the flood of wagers coming in.

That number eclipsed the average amount placed on a League Two fixture fourteen times over.

I doubt even one of Accrington’s more famous residents Mystic Meg would be confident of risking her reputation on predicting Stanley’s form let alone any cold hard cash.

There could be several reasons behind this unusual pattern. Of course there’s the obvious accusation that the players could in some way be behind a pre determined outcome.

That’s something they and their clubs strenuously deny possible, with Stanley boss John Coleman telling me this week he’s satisfied his players did all they could to win the game and pointed to Bury’s keeper being selected in the league’s team of the week as an example of his sides dominance during the match.

Conspiracy theorists may also like to try a Far East betting ring, gangsters, an internet viral that encouraged a punt similar to that which saw Craig David’s Born to do it Album come second in a poll of best records this week or what about Sir Fred Goodwin deciding to blow a couple of months pension by having a flutter?

Not even Benjamin Button could boast this much of a curious case.

The accused have until April 23 to answer the charges and face FA suspensions if the allegations are proven.

If they are guilty then they will surely be the most unprofessional footballers since Hide and Seek World Champion Amir Zaki.

Of course, we must presume all fives innocence until proven otherwise.

That’s the clubs viewpoint, stating that Cavanagh and Williams, the only two involved who remain at the club will continue to be available for selection.

Although I imagine many will have already nailed the players involved to the cross on this one.

For Accrington Stanley as a club, it’s a shame that they and their few disciples are making the trip to Grimsby today with the stench of something fishy already stuck firmly in the back of their throats.