The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Budge vows to stand by gambling addict Lafferty
Hearts chairwoman Ann Budge has vowed to stand by Kyle Lafferty after the striker admitted he is battling a gambling addiction.
The Northern Ireland international admits he has lost thousands of pounds as a result of his problem but believes opening up about his demons will aid his recovery.
Lafferty was fined £23,000 by the Football Association last summer after breaking betting rules during his time at Norwich.
Now he has given a tell-all interview to BBC Scotland in which in details the depths of his struggles.
The 30-year-old admits his issues began after he made his 2008 switch from Burnley to Rangers.
“About halfway through my contract with Rangers I didn’t have anything better to do after training than go to the bookies or sit online,” he said.
“Betting on football had been banned and, if anything, things got worse. I’d bet on horses instead.
“I knew absolutely nothing about horses. I still don’t have a clue. I open the app on my phone and go by the colour of the jersey or the name. If it’s a winner, it’s a winner; if it’s not, it’s not, and I move on to the next one. It was every day on the horses and every single race. I was betting on anything; horses, dogs, virtual racing, roulette.”
Lafferty – who was sent to the Sporting Chance Clinic following his FA charge – has thanked Budge, Tynecastle boss Craig Levein and Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill for their help and support and his club chiefs have now declared they will do all they can to back the player.
A statement from Budge said: “On behalf of everyone at Hearts, I would like to formally record our total support for Kyle Lafferty as he moves forward to deal with his acknowledged addiction to gambling.
“Kyle took the enormously brave step of coming to the club and asking for help.
“No one should underestimate how difficult that decision was for him and his family.”