Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran has called for midfielder Lewis Horner to be helped rather than punished after being cited by the Scottish FA for betting on matches.
Horner is alleged to have committed two breaches of Scottish FA rules on betting on football, which prevent players from gambling on any football match.
The 25-year-old faces a charge of betting on 343 matches this season, including once against the Highlanders, while he is also accused of betting on 12 matches during the 2011-12 season, in which he was contracted to Hibernian and spent much of the campaign on loan at East Stirling.
Foran is aware of Horner’s long-running gambling issues and has called for the Englishman to be supported in getting the better of them.
Foran said: “He needs help. This is not a lad who gambles every now and then – he has a gambling problem. He had counselling a few years back and it worked – he stopped gambling. He stopped going to the counselling, which was a big mistake, and has had a relapse.
“Lewis needs our help now. The Scottish FA and PFA need to help him, too. He needs people around him who can help him and that’s what we’re going to do at the club.
“I don’t think it’s a huge problem, in terms of having guys who are addicts.
“It goes on in football and I’d like to think it doesn’t go on at the club, because I spoke to them three or four months ago.
“The PFA came in at the start of the season, so the lads would be very silly if they were gambling on football now.
“The only ones who are gambling now are the ones who have an addiction. Come forward, get it out there and be open and honest.
“Maybe they shouldn’t be punished for what they’ve done in the past, let’s help them for the future.”
Caley Jags will lose on-loan Hearts midfielder Billy King at the end of the season after he agreed a pre-contract with Championship side Dundee United.
Foran is confident he will retain his focus in the remaining three games of the campaign, with Caley Jags four points adrift at the foot of the Premiership.
Foran added: “Nothing changes. Billy wants to go back down the road, closer to home, and we wish him well when he does go.
“He’s been a good servant for us, what he gives us in training every day is a top effort. He’s a wonderful trainer with a wonderful attitude. He’s still got a part to play here.”
