Players in betting probe charged

The betting controversy erupted after a series of bets were placed on the Roesider’s game with Dergview, which Limavady United lost by two goals to nil.

Bookmaker Paddy Power submitted their records to the IFA as part of a probe into the alleged betting irregularities.

Charges have now been brought forward against all three players – Trevor Parkhill, Richard Close and goalkeeper Laurence McCormick – with a further disciplinary meeting to take place this evening (Wednesday, April 17).

The players recently gave their only press interview to date to reporter Clive Edgar. Trevor Parkhill admitted placing a bet on the Dergview match through his own betting account but stressed that the bet was placed on behalf of his father. Richard Close said that any betting on the Dergview game was carried out by his younger brother, and that he can have no control over whether his brother bets on football matches or not.

The third player, Laurence McCormick, said that he did not place any bets on the Dergview match and, indeed, did not place any bets at all on the weekend in question.

Once the alleged betting irregularities came to light, Limavady United took the decision to suspend all three players until May 1, 2013 in order to allow the Association to conduct its investigation.

Chairman of Limavady United David Brewster, speaking to the Sentinel last night, said that the club could not comment until after the outcome of tomorrow’s hearing. He said: “We are still awaiting the outcome, so at the minute, there isn’t anything we can say.”

He said: “I always do an Irish league bet for my father as well as he had rung me about a few horses and he asked could I do a bet on Dergview as well. In fact from time to time my little brother would do the odd bet through my betting account as well. To be honest I never really thought anything about it because it was a small bet (£30), my father’s usual wager. The first thing I knew anything about it really was when they hadn’t paid out when the bet won.”

Another player, Richard Close, denies any wrongdoing on his part. He said: “Without a shadow of a doubt I feel that I am being wrongly accused for something that I strongly refute.” He added: “My younger brother placed a bet on this game but that’s something that’s beyond my control. This was a bet made on his own online bookmakers account and again something I have no control over.”

The third player, goalkeeper Laurence McCormick, said that he is unworried because he is assured of his innocence. He said: “One thing I am sure about however is the fact that I didn’t place a bet on our game against Dergview. In fact I didn’t place any bets that weekend at all and I know from my point of view I’m a winner and I want to win every game we play. To be honest I’m not that bothered; why should I be bothered about something that I know I didn’t do.”