FOOTBALLER Dean Brett has been handed a four-game ban by the Scottish Football Association, for betting offences.

The defender, from Tranent, appeared in front of a disciplinary hearing yesterday (Thursday), after admitting placing 2,787 bets on more than 6,000 matches - including eight on his Cowdenbeath side to lose. 

Brett has since been sacked by Cowdenbeath after admitting placing the bets, including on Cowden to lose in five matches he played in.

A statement on Cowdenbeath's website said: "Following a Judicial Panel Tribunal hearing at Hampden Park today (Thursday) which was attended by Dean and two Cowdenbeath FC Directors, we can now confirm that Dean was given a suspension of four matches in respect of the notice of complaint regarding betting on football.  

"A further three match suspension is deferred and will only be applied if Dean breaches the betting rules again before the end of 2017.

"Dean has accepted the decision and will not appeal.  Dean and the club thank the Tribunal and the SFA for their consideration and their fair hearing of the case."

The 24-year-old, who signed for Junior outfit Bonnyrigg Rose last week, had already been handed a four-game ban for offensive comments on social media. 

He is two games into that ban, so will miss Bonnyrigg's next six matches, but will be available for the club towards the end of the season.