Long-serving Town kitman James Pullen has been fined and handed a suspended ban from football by the FA having admitted placing 867 bets on football matches over a six-year period.
Former keeper Pullen, who we understand has now left the club having initially been suspended, was charged with misconduct under FA Rule E1.2 on 14th May this year regarding 867 bets placed on football between 30th March 2018 and 13th March 2024, each bet a separate breach of FA Rule E8 which prohibits anyone working for a club from betting on football.
After Pullen had pleaded guilty at a paper hearing via Microsoft Teams, an independent regulatory commission imposed a three-month suspension from all football and football-related activity, suspended in full until the end of the 2025/26 season, and a £750 fine.
Most of the bets were accumulators, including 120 of 126 involving Town. None of the bets involving the Blues predicted a defeat, although three were on draws, something which was of concern to the commission and aggravated the offence, although considered at the lower end of the scale.
There was one spot bet involving Town, a £5 single losing bet on a Blues player scoring a hat-trick against Rochdale January 3rd 2021.
Almost all the bets were small stakes with the total sum over the period £1,400.79 with the returns £792.67 and losses £608.12. At the hearing, Pullen and his counsellor likened the betting activity to "two-pence slot games”.
Chelmsford-born Pullen, 42, admitted wrongdoing at the earliest possible opportunity, accepted he had placed the bets, apologised and cooperated fully with the FA. The FA’s case made no suggestion that there was any insider knowledge or similar.
He was deemed to have shown genuine remorse and ceased his misconduct immediately, while the panel wasn’t aware of any previous breaches of the rules.
Pullen initially joined Town as a goalkeeper from Heybridge Swifts in September 1999 and went on to make two senior appearances.
Spells with Blackpool, Dagenham & Redbridge, Peterborough, back at Heybridge, Hornchurch, Ebbsfleet, AFC Wimbledon and Chelmsford followed.
He returned to Town in June 2013, initially as first-team masseur, before taking on the kitman role.
The FA's written reasons can be found here, while the Blues say they won't be issuing a comment on the matter.