WALSALL'S Chief Executive has blamed Bury goalkeeper Paddy Kenny for an incident where the Shakers keeper was struck by a coin.

Roy Whalley said he did not condone the actions of the Walsall supporter who threw the coin during Saturday's Walsall-Bury clash but claimed that Kenny "incited" the crowd with his tactics.

His comments came after the Football Association confirmed they are launching an investigation into the incident. If the club are at fault, it could lead to a fine.

Whalley told the BEN: "It is a one-off incident which has never happened at our ground before. I will never condone coin throwing because it gives the club a bad name and more importantly can cause serious injury.

"However, if you look at the context of the incident, Bury's goalkeeper Kenny did incite the crowd by what they deemed as time wasting tactics throughout the second half, which the referee did nothing about.

"But having said that we do not condone it and if we find the person who threw the coin we will ban he or she for life."

Three coins appeared to be thrown at Kenny during the second half of Saturday's super 2-1 win at Walsall's Bescott Stadium. It was the first time this season the Midlands club have been beaten at home and the coins were thrown from a terraced stand behind Kenny's goal containing a large number of supporters.

One coin struck Kenny, causing the Bury number one to run to the half way line and hand the object to the referee.

The Football Association confirmed referee Graham Frankland had mentioned the incident in his report and an investigation has now begun.

"We are writing to Walsall and the police at the game to ask them exactly how and why the incident happened," said an FA spokesman.

"With incidents of coin throwing and crowd trouble we need to establish whether the home club have done everything they can to prevent a problem happening. If they have done everything right, we will then work with them to try and eradicate the problem. If there are things that could've been done to prevent it happening then we will decide what further action to take."