JAGS’ LAWLESS FACING BETTING CHARGES
PARTICK THISTLE boss Alan Archibald says Stevie Lawless is still in his squad for tomorrow’s game at Hamilton — despite the midfielder facing a charge for allegedly breaching betting regulations. The Jags confirmed reports that the SFA are set to issue the 24-year-old with a notice of complaint ‘with regards to betting on football matches’. If found guilty, Lawless would be the fourth player to face such action. Rangers players Ian Black, Steve Simonsen and Ayr United striker Michael Moffat have also fallen foul of Scottish football’s zero-tolerance rules, with punishments ranging from one to four-match bans. Lawless, 24, has played a key role in the three successive victories which have lifted Thistle clear of the Premiership relegation zone and he also scored in last weekend’s 3-0 win over St Mirren. As the club awaited a response from the SFA over the allegations yesterday, manager Archibald said: ‘Steven will be in the squad as normal until we know the full facts.’ The details of the impending charges are not yet clear and the Firhill team will make no further comment until the official notice of complaint arrives. However, a club spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of the SFA’s intention to issue a notice of complaint to Steven Lawless with regards to betting on football matches. ‘As a club, we are in the process of conducting our own internal investigation and, until that and any SFA procedure is concluded, we will be making no further comment.’ SFA disciplinary rule 33 prohibits players, coaches, club officials and referees in Scotland from betting on all football matches anywhere around the world. The Premiership match with Accies, meanwhile, will be Archibald’s 100th game in charge. Bertie Auld was the last Thistle manager to win four successive top-flight games back in October 1977 — two months before Archibald was born — and matching that would be a fine achievement for the 37-year-old manager. He said: ‘The 100th game in charge of the club is good timing, especially since we secured our safety last weekend. ‘The players have put a good run together at the right time and that’s what was missing earlier — the consistency. Now we have a wee chance to try and really kick on and catch Hamilton for seventh place.’