Betting probe into Lewes match (From The Argus)

Betting probe into Lewes match

9:30am Friday 22nd May 2009 in Search By Howard Griggs

Lewes chairman Terry Parris admits he is surprised the 1-1 draw at Histon last September is being probed by football and gambling authorities for suspect betting patterns.

There is no suggestion of anything improper by Lewes following a match which Parris described as the Rooks’ best away performance of the season.

The match, which Histon were expected to win, is one of five being looked into, as revealed in a Sunday newspaper.

A large amount of money was placed on Histon to win and within 30 seconds of Lewes taking a surprise lead, the first of 38 threatening phone calls was made to seven Histon club officials.

The caller warned of dire consequences if Histon did not win and claimed to know where officials worked and lived and even where their children went to school.

A last-minute equaliser earned Histon a point but at 1am the following morning a car belonging to club president Peter Betson was set on fire.

About an hour later another club official got a call warning her to leave her house because it was about to be firebombed.

In the following days further threats were received saying unless Histon paid £100,000 – the amount the caller claimed the group had lost – the team coach would be ambushed to or from a forthcoming game at Wrexham and everyone on board shot.

The incidents have been confirmed by Cambridgeshire Police.

Parris, who was at the game, said: “I was totally unaware of anything that happened. I am surprised to hear this. There didn’t seem to be anything irregular with the game.

“Histon were doing extremely well at the time and I would consider it as our best away result of the season.”

Meanwhile, Lewes are still not in a position to appoint a permanent manager. The club are talking to potential investors and until the financial future of the club is secure they cannot tell prospective managers what budget they will have to work with.

A winding-up order against the club was dismissed in the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday as Lewes had paid the money in question last Wednesday. It was the second of two winding-up petitions brought by Portakabin. The first had been paid off prior to an earlier hearing.