GARETH Ainsworth said he's been shocked at the revelations on match rigging and spot fixing affecting football.

A number of players have been arrested in recent weeks in connection to allegations of fixing the results of matches, or deliberately picking up yellow cards in order to win a bet.

Two players with non-league Whitehawk FC - whose contracts were terminated in light of the allegations - appeared in court this week after being charged with spot fixing.

Former Wanderers striker Delroy Facey has been reported in national media as being another player to have been arrested and bailed over the claims.

And Ainsworth said: "There's a few funny messages I've seen on the internet but it's quite a serious issue. We pride ourselves on the British game and it's a thing we probably shut your eyes to. We didn't think it would happen here but obviously there's an investigation that needs putting in place.

"It's not nice thinking I was playing when the allegations were made and I've played against some of the players the allegations are made against.

"I can safely say in my 25 years I have never, ever been approached and have never heard of anyone being approached. It's all new to me.

"As far as I know, no players or anyone connected with this club has been approached."

He added: "They are isolated incidents but they definitely need looking at and sorting out. This game means a lot to me and to a lot of people. It's terrible to think people would lower themselves to take money to affect the result of a game. It's crazy and something I wouldn't even contemplate one per cent."

Paris Cowan-Hall said the issue of match fixing hadn't been a burning topic of conversation at the Wanderers training ground however.

He said: "When it's not really anyone you know - I personally don't know any of the people who've been involved in it - you don't really talk about it. I've read bits here and there about it but it's not been a massive topic in and around the ground."

The arrests have been made as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into an alleged international betting syndicate.