FOREST GREEN striker Andy Mangan is one of five players who have been charged by the Football Association over a breach in betting rules.

The betting scandal relates to Accrington Stanley’s last game of the last League Two season at home to Bury, from whom Mangan joined Rovers in the summer.

Mangan is Forest Green’s leading goalscorer this season and bagged his 25th goal of the campaign in the 2-2 draw with Kidderminster on Tuesday - his 11th goal in as many games including two hat-tricks.

Four players then at Accrington - Jay Harris, David Mannix, Robert Williams and Peter Cavanagh - and Mangan, who was at Bury, have been charged with betting on a victory for the visitors.

Both Harris and Cavanagh played in the game which ended 2-0 to Bury.

All five face serious sanctions including the possibility of long suspensions if the charges are found proven.

An FA statement said: “All five are alleged to have placed bets on Bury to win this match.”

Forest Green have so far refused to comment on the issue.

Mannix is alleged to have placed stakes to the value of approximately £4,000; Mangan £3,500; Harris £2,000; Williams £1,000; and Cavanagh on a £5 accumulator.

The FA were alerted after bookies in the north-west reported unusual betting patterns in the lead-up to the match with higher than usual amounts being staked in particular areas of the country. Harris, who is now registered at Chester City, has also been charged in relation to betting on a game involving his new club and another two League Two fixtures.

Cavanagh has also been charged with further breaches in relation to his betting on another Accrington Stanley match in which he played and on a number of other League Two matches.

All five have until 23 April to respond to the charges.

Mangan could be involved in the Setanta Shield final against AFC Telford at the New Lawn tonight (8pm).

Rovers, who have defeated Oxford, Torquay, Woking and Ebbsfleet to get to the final, will be without cup-tied duo Dave Brown and Lee Ayres.

Jim Harvey’s side will come face-to-face with former striker Danny Carey-Bertram who joined the Shropshire outfit in October from Bath City.

The game will be televised live on Setanta Sports.