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Last Updated: Friday, 16 April, 2004, 17:03 GMT 18:03 UK
Saints launch inquiry
Sean Long and Martin Gleeson celebrate St Helens' 2002 Super League title
St Helens have launched an internal inquiry into allegations that two of their players bet on Saints to lose to Bradford on Monday.

The club says it has not yet seen any evidence about the claims, which concern Sean Long and Martin Gleeson.

Saints have no plans to suspend the players at the moment, but they did not play on Friday night because of injury.

"No evidence has been presented to us and that's the purpose of the inquiry," said chief executive Sean McGuire.

He added that he viewed the matter "very seriously" and said the club would be cooperating fully with a Rugby Football League (RFL) investigation into the matter.

"This is new territory for us and I think the penalty which would be imposed on them, should the allegations be proved by due process to be the fact, is for the Rugby Football League, not the club," said McGuire.

It was not my bet... I opened the account for my mate
Sean Long's defence

"We'll be talking to the players at the earliest opportunity over the weekend, or at the latest at the beginning of next week.

"It's extremely urgent and we will do it as soon as it is practicable to do so because we are doing it in conjunction with the RFL."

The Daily Mail alleges Long and Gleeson placed bets that Saints would lose to Bradford by at least nine points on Monday, which is against RFL rules.

The newspaper claims both players made almost �1,000 each, but Long insists he placed the bet for a friend.

The scrum-half told the newspaper: "It was not my bet. I opened the account for my mate."

The Super League match originally caused controversy when coach Ian Millward left out 11 regulars as Saints lost 54-8.

The RFL later cleared St Helens of any wrongdoing, declaring they had gone through the proper procedures.

Both Long and Gleeson missed the Super League victory against Salford at Knowsley Road through injury.

Long is still troubled by a leg injury while Gleeson suffered a recurrence of a hand injury in the heavy defeat at Odsal.




WATCH AND LISTEN
RFL spokesman Andrew Whitelam
"The RFL rules clearly forbid betting and any associated activity"


St Helens chief executive Sean McGuire
"The purpose of the enquiry is to establish what the facts are"



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