FIVE former Accrington Stanley players have failed in their appeals against long suspensions from football over FA betting charges.

Ex-Stanley captain Peter Cavanagh, Robbie Williams, Jay Harris, David Mannix and Andy Mangan were all found guilty during the summer of betting on Bury to beat the Reds during a fixture in May 2008.

Cavanagh and Williams, who were still at Stanley when the charges were announced in April, both received eight-month bans from football, while Harris was suspended for a year with Mannix receiving a 10-month ban and Mangan five months.

All five players opted to appeal against the verdict but have now been informed that the suspensions have been upheld, although the amount they will have to pay in costs has been reduced.