DIRECTORS at Frome Town FC have said non-league football has suffered a disappointing loss after manager Nick Bunyard retired from the sport this month.
Former first team manager at the club, Nick Bunyard announced on Facebook last week he would retire from managing football after being suspended by the FA for betting on his own teams.
He was suspended from his role in April, now extended until 2019, for betting on his own teams – Frome Town FC and formerly Paulton Rovers FC – 45 times.
In a statement released last week, Frome Town directors said Nick, a ‘committed individual’, would be missed at the club and in non-league football, and that they thought the case had been handled badly.
The statement read, “It is important to say we in no way condone Nick’s gambling on football, against the FA rules, and fully accept that he deserved to be reprimanded in some way.
“There was never any suggestion of ‘match fixing’ and no accusation of such. The offence was using inside information (knowledge of injuries etc.) to gain an advantage over the bookmaker.
“Our disappointment lies in both the way the case has been handled and, we believe, the disproportionate punishment in respect of the offence. Nick admitted the charges immediately, and co-operated with the enquiry from the early days.
“Whilst we accept that a period of information gathering was required, to take seven months from [April] to reach a hearing was too long and there is no doubt had he been a high-profile player/manager or Frome Town a high-profile club, this would have been dealt with in days or weeks.”
An FA statement said Bunyard has been suspended from ‘all football and football related activity until 1st July 2019 and fined £3,000 after breaching The FA’s Betting Rules.’
Frome Town’s directors clarified that Nick had only bet on his teams to lose on eight of the 45 occasions, after the FA claimed he had placed all the bets against the teams.
Acknowledging Nick’s decision to retire from football, the directors continued, “It is very disappointing for non-league football to lose such a committed individual and the level of support he has received from other managers and players speaks volumes.
“At a time when grass roots football is on its knees, we cannot help but feel that driving people out of the game serves little purpose other than to set an example.
“It has been a very difficult and trying time for Nick, he will be missed at Frome as both a manager where for a short time he provided us with some of the best football in years, but also as an individual who has just been great to have around the place. We wish him all the best for the future.”
The club says it hopes interim manager Josh Jefferies will continue in his role as Nick’s replacement.
