FORMER Weymouth FC chief executive Gary Calder has been banned from football for eight years.

A statement on the Football Association's official website reads: "Gary Calder, former chief executive of Weymouth FC, has been suspended from all football activity for eight years with immediate effect in relation to multiple breaches of The FA’s betting rules.

"An Independent Regulatory Commission found proven a breach of the 2008-09 FA Rule E8(b) in that Mr Calder provided another person information relating to the Weymouth versus Rushden & Diamonds fixture on 21 February 2009, which he had by virtue of his position as chief executive of Weymouth, and which was not publically available, for, or in relation to betting.

"Further multiple breaches of the 2008-09 FA Rule E8(a) in relation to betting were also found proven against Mr Calder.

"Mr Calder, who was also fined £2,500, had denied the charge."