FA betting probe into top West Midlands non-league manager

Former Hednesford Town, Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge boss Liam McDonald is at the centre of a betting probe by the Football Association.

The FA is investigating allegations of a breach of betting rules by McDonald dating back to his time as manager of Redditch United more than a decade ago.

The allegations come as current Kettering Town boss McDonald, who represented Hednesford and Halesowen Town as a player, is due to host his former club the Yeltz this weekend.

Reports in a national newspaper claimed McDonald bet against his own team, during his tenure at Redditch between 2013 and 2016.

FA betting rules prohibit anyone involved in the game at step four and above from placing bets on football matches worldwide.

The FA has confirmed to the Express & Star that there is an ongoing investigation in relation to McDonald.

During McDonald’s time at Redditch, the club competed in the Southern Premier Central - step three of the non-league pyramid.

McDonald’s Kettering Town are currently pushing for a play-off place ahead of their clash with fellow contenders Halesowen.

Reports also claim McDonald voluntarily made Kettering aware of the issue, with the club understood to be supporting him.

The FA has not issued any charges at this stage, and it remains unclear whether any action will follow.

After leaving Redditch in May 2016, McDonald took charge of Hednesford Town before going on to manage Solihull Moors, Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge.

He guided Hednesford to a fourth-place finish in the Northern Premier League, just three points off top spot, before joining National League side Solihull after six months in the role.

McDonald spent almost a year at Solihull, leaving by mutual agreement in October 2017 with the club 23rd after taking eight points from 14 matches.

Less than two weeks later, he returned to management with Rushall Olympic, where he enjoyed a successful six-and-a-half-year spell.

During that time, he led the club to four Walsall Senior Cup titles, including three in succession, as well as back-to-back Staffordshire Senior Cups.

He took charge of hometown club Stourbridge in May 2024, but left after 13 months following a ninth-place finish amid ongoing stadium and financial uncertainty.

This season, he has guided Kettering into the Southern Premier Central play-off places, with a crucial clash against Halesowen - one place below them - set to play a key role in the race for promotion.