Following the news that he had been issued with a suspended five-month ban, Walsall midfielder Jamie Jellis has posted a statement, thanking everyone for their support as he looks to focus on football.Jellis, who joined the Saddlers from non-league Tamworth in January 2024, was charged with misconduct earlier this year, after the FA alleged he breached Rule E1 (b) by placing 2,248 bets between April 30, 2019 and July 4, 2023.
However, following several weeks of deliberations, the panel has opted against a lengthy ban, instead fining the 24-year-old £1,200 and issuing a suspended ban from all football activities.
Issued via his official social media accounts, Jamie said: "As those close to me will be aware, these last few months have been up there with the toughest in my life/career so far and I'm so grateful that in the last week an outcome has been reached.
"I would like to thank the FA for understanding my situation and all the circumstances involved at this point in my life.
"I was a young, naive player and I was not fully aware of the betting rules at the time. I would certainly never have knowingly done anything that could have jeopardised my career in any way.
"I have learned a lot from the last few months. Not only has it been tough, it's been a massive eye-opener for me that things can change in the blink of an eye, so I appreciate more than ever the position I am in.
"It has been hard to try and focus and play my best football with everything going on while maintaining my day-to-day life away from football.
"I feel like I've had to hide away these past months and have been a shadow of my true self. But now the weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I feel like I can play with freedom again and really put that time of my life to bed and focus on this season and helping Walsall finishing as high up the table as possible.
"I would like to thank my family, close friends and everyone involved with Walsall Football Club for helping me and supporting me through such difficult times with nothing but encouragement and kind words.
"The support I have received internally and even messages on social media have helped me through and meant a lot to me and I will not forget the support I have been shown throughout!
"Thank you, Jamie"