DARK DAYS FOR BRAY

Match-fixing allegations hang over Seagulls

AN investigation into alleged match-fixing at Bray Wanderers could lead to the most devastating blow the Co. Wicklow club has ever experienced.

On Tuesday evening last, a convoy of Gardai cars descended on the club’s training ground in a scene, ‘like something out of a movie’, as manager Harry Kenny recalled. Players were immediately separated and instructed not to communicate with one another before being taken aside for one-on-one interviews that lasted up to 30 minutes each. The underage members of the squad had to be accompanied by adults for their interviews.

Phones were inspected as players and staff were allegedly quizzed about five different football matches. Training was called off and the shell-shocked panel were sent home.

Bray’s season has been compared to a rollercoaster many times but with a rollercoaster, you can see what’s coming. Nobody saw this coming.

Any potential payment issues, infamous statements or ownership issues pale in comparison to this. The club has been rockier than a mountain face in recent years but if these allegations prove true, it will rock it to its core.

Kenny has said it’d be ‘gut-wrenching’ if his players had any involvement in this and that he was ‘absolutely sick to my stomach’ when he heard of the allegations.

A recent 5-0 friendly defeat to Waterford FC is what launched the probe, and since then four more fixtures have been included under the microscope; the IRN-BRU Cup 2-0 defeat away to Elgin City, last month’s 2-1 league win over Drogheda United and the two home games against Finn Harps — a 5-3 win in March and a 3-2 defeat in July.

As there is an ongoing investigation, the club cannot comment on the matter.