AFC Wimbledon manager Wally Downes has been suspended by the club after receiving a Football Association charge over an alleged breach of betting regulations.

The charges relate to a series of eight bets Downes made between 2013 and this summer.

A statement on AFC Wimbledon’s official website read: “Club manager Wally Downes has been suspended from first team duties pending further notice.

“The club has been informed that Wally has been charged by the FA for Misconduct under FA Rule E1(b) in respect of 8 bets placed on football matches between 30 November 2013 and 12 July 2019.”

The statement continued: “Given the seriousness of this breach in FA regulations, the club has decided to suspend Wally with immediate effect, giving time for the club and Dons Trust boards to look at the allegations more closely and make a further announcement in due course.”

Downes, 58, a much-travelled coach, has been in charge at the Cherry Red Records Stadium since December 2018.

The Dons currently sit just one place off the foot of the League One table with three points from their 10 games to date and no win in 12 matches in all competitions this season.

He kept the club up on goal difference last season as they finished with a run of five wins and five draws in their final 11 games.

However, they are without a win in 12 outings in all competitions to date during the current campaign and have collected only three league points from a possible 30 to sit a point off the foot of the table with only Bolton, who have had 12 points deducted, worse off.

Assistant manager Glyn Hodges will take charge of team affairs for Saturday’s trip to Peterborough.