SCOTT Davies’s addiction even led him to betting on Oxford United matches while he was at the club – but there was a snag.

He had started doing it during half-time intervals while at Crawley Town and it continued when he moved to the U’s in 2013.

However, a couple of issues quickly arose.

He said: “I was quite unlucky at Oxford because (manager) Chris Wilder used to go on and on that I didn’t have much time.

“Steve Evans’s team talks at Crawley were short and sharp, so we used to have three or four minutes to ourselves.

“I used to get my phone out of my pocket, put it in my shorts and go and bet.

Also read: Ex-Oxford United midfielder Scott Davies thriving in role alerting players to gambling risks

“The other problem at the Kassam Stadium was I never had a 3G signal in the toilets. It was an absolute nightmare, some days I got bets on and some I didn’t.

“If you ever watched us I would be one of the last players out, because as soon as the management finished their team talk I’d head to the toilet.”

The Football Association tightened up the rules in 2014, the summer Davies was released by United.

Also read: Oxford United boss still annoyed by Plymouth Argyle manager's swimming criticism

Before the worldwide ban came into force, players could bet on games providing they were not in the same division.

But gambling on your own match was prohibited, which made for one particularly nervous afternoon.

Davies said: “We played Rochdale away and David Connolly was saying to me ‘I fancy a goal today’.

“I had a bet on him to score first in the game when we were stood on the pitch beforehand just looking round.

“When I went to log back on it said my account was suspended.

“I was on the bench that day and I remember sitting in silence for the whole 90 minutes thinking I’d been caught.

“Nothing ever came of it, which was crazy.”