FA ban Burgess over breach of rules

Andy Burgess has been banned for a month for breaching the FA betting rules. Burgess admitted to two offences whilst he was playing for Rushden and Diamonds last season. Burgess placed a bet of £45.45 on Rushden to beat Mansfield on 28th February 2009 (Rushden lost 1-0). He placed another bet of £5 on his team mate Curtis Woodhouse to score first in their match against Kidderminster on 15th November 2008 (Kidderminster won 1-0).

When Burgess signed on loan back in November the club said that they were aware of this charge that Burgess was facing. However they expected nothing to come of it. Today the club said that they would not be appealing against this decision and that Burgess had a fair hearing. To view the full statement visit the Official Website.

The ban doesn’t kick in until the 4th February. However he is currently injured and is expected to be out for 4 weeks, so the ban does fall nicely in some respects. He will miss some really, really, big games though. Stevenage away, York at home, Rushden at home and Luton also at home. He will be back available for selection for our game against Salisbury at Field Mill on the 6th March, injury permitting.

This leaves us with just 2 fit wingers. 3 if you include Jake Speight. Will Holdsworth ship one or two players out to free up some wages to bring a an extra body in? According to Mansfield 103.2 radio station, DH may be chasing ex Newcastle player Nolberto Solano. In an interview on the radio station earlier today, when DH was asked about whether he was chasing Solano he didn’t deny it. Infact, he wanted to know who told the radio station this news.. I can’t see it myself.

Another player who is a possibility if we free up some wages is Craig Nelthorpe from York City. Holdsworth said last season that he was a big admirer of the player and we spoke to him in the summer but we couldn’t agree on terms. Nelthorpe is currently on trial at Luton so it looks like the door is open for him to leave..

Holdsworth may stick with what he has right now but it would be slightly risky if Williams or Briscoe were to get injured!