FROME TOWN boss Nick Bunyard has been banned from all football activity until July 2019 after being found guilty of betting against his own team 45 times.
The FA confirmed that an independent regulatory commission heard how Bunyard admitted misconduct in relation to 97 breaches of the governing body’s betting rules between September 2014 and April 2016.
Players and managers down to Step 4 are not allowed to bet on any football from around the world and 45 of the bets Bunyard placed were against Frome and his former club Paulton Rovers, who he also managed.
He led Paulton to Southern League South & West promotion before taking over at Frome in August 2015 helping them remain in the Southern Premier.
However, he will not be allowed to have any involvement in football for over two-and-a-half years, while he was also fined £3,000. Bunyard was cleared of a further charge of breaching a post-charge Interim Suspension Order which was imposed in June.
Frome hope that Josh Jeffries will continue in his role as manager after he stepped up to fill in for Bunyard after his initial suspension.
A club statement read: “Our disappointment lies in both the way the case has been handled and, we believe, the disproportionate punishment in respect of the offence.”
