Why Portsmouth opponents Wimbledon will not have manager Wally Downes in charge for game at Kingsmeadow

AFC Wimbledon boss Wally Downes   Picture: Paul Harding/Getty ImagesAFC Wimbledon boss Wally Downes   Picture: Paul Harding/Getty Images
AFC Wimbledon boss Wally Downes Picture: Paul Harding/Getty Images
AFC Wimbledon manager Wally Downes has been banned from all football activity for 28 days and fined by the Football Association after admitting breaking betting rules.

The 58-year-old admitted placing five bets on matches between November 30, 2013, and January 30, 2014, and three bets between March 16, 2019, and July 12, 2019.

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The ruling comes on the eve on Pompey’s trip to Kingsmeadow in League One.

An FA spokesperson said: ‘AFC Wimbledon manager Wally Downes has been fined £3,000 and suspended from all football and football-related activity for 28 days, until November 14, 2019, after admitting breaching FA Betting rules.’

Downes has already missed four matches after being suspended by the club since first being charged on September 25.

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Following the FA's ruling, the Dons said they would ‘be making a further statement in due course’.

In Downes' absence, assistant Glyn Hodges has picked up two wins in three League One games as well as an EFL Trophy win over Leyton Orient.

However, the club remains in the League One relegation zone with nine points from 13 matches ahead of the visit of the Blues.

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Downes has been in charge of Wimbledon since December 2018 and guided the club to safety on the final day of last season after they picked up 21 points from their final 12 matches.

He spent almost a decade playing for the original Wimbledon between 1979 and 1988, and is often referred to as the 'founder' of the Crazy Gang.