FOOTBALLER Dean Brett admits he is “really pleased” to have found a new club, little over two weeks after being sacked by Cowdenbeath.

Brett, who is from Tranent, was dismissed by the League Two club for “gross misconduct” after admitting placing 6,369 bets on matches – including eight against his own team to lose.

He has now agreed terms to join East Superleague side Bonnyrigg Rose, initially until the end of the season.

That ended Brett’s near-decade-long stay at Central Park, and the 24-year-old told Courier Sport he was “gutted”.

Brett, who left Cowden bottom of League Two, said: “It was really disappointing the way it all ended. I had a good time there and it’s a great club, so I wish them all the best and hope they get out of the trouble they are in.”

The defender is facing a lengthy ban for his betting offences, and faces a Scottish Football Association (SFA) hearing today (Thursday).

He explained how the move to Bonnyrigg came about.

“Robbie Horn [manager] phoned me up and he offered me to go along and train with them,” he said.

“When Cowden let me go, we talked about signing.

“I’d spoken to a few clubs but Bonnyrigg had the most games left to play this season, so it makes sense to get the ban out of the way.”

The 24-year-old is hopeful the SFA ban will be lenient, but admits he has no idea how long he is facing out of the game. He has already been slapped with a four-match ban for offensive comments made on Twitter, and Brett added: “I’ve no idea but I’m hoping, because I’ve already been sacked by Cowdenbeath, they don’t throw the book at me.”

The defender, who has admitted having a gambling addiction, has also accepted an offer of help from his former club, with the conditions he gives up betting, shuts down his social media accounts and attends training courses on social media and equality.

He added: “I’ll be meeting with two of the directors but we’ve not thought about it much – I just want to get the SFA hearing out the way first.

“I’ve not tweeted anything since [his sacking] but I can’t work out how to delete the accounts using my phone.”

The former Blue Brazil captain also wanted to put his dismissal behind him.

He added: “I think Bonnyrigg have got 16 games left to play so it depends how long the ban is. They’re still in the Scottish [Junior Cup] so I could be available for the semi-final and the final.

“I’m trying to look at the positives – I’d probably never have left out of loyalty to Cowdenbeath and obviously it was disappointing how I’ve left but new opportunities have come up.”