THE football team physio who used credit cards stolen from players' wallets has been sacked.

Kelvin Clark was physio at Accrington Stanley, but Burnley Crown Court heard last week he attempted to buy hundreds of pounds' worth of goods with cards taken from the club's dressing rooms.

Clark's illegal spending spree left club chairman Eric Whalley with no option but to terminate his contract.

"The players feel very betrayed by what has gone on," he said. "Kelvin was a well trusted member of staff and he abused his position.

"The first I heard of Kelvin's court case was when I read about it in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. I was stunned. The police never contacted the club either." Mr Whalley said when Kelvin was appointed as physio last year he did not tell anyone that he had previously been in prison.

"I only found out Kelvin had been inside after I did a bit of research, but I let bygones be bygones and gave him a chance," said Mr Whalley.

He said the thefts prompted a security review at the Crown Ground but the board decided nothing more could be done.

"We have the best security in our league anyway. We have a security man who sits outside the dressing room while the game is in progress and all the players' valuables are kept in a bag with the security guard.

"There really is nothing more we can do."

Burnley Crown Court heard that Clark, of Rutland Close, Clayton-le-Moors used one of the stolen cards to buy two shirts for £38 from Accrington Golf Club Shop but was denied when he went to Whalley Golf Club Shop.

Sentencing on Clark, who admitted handling stolen goods, obtaining property by deception and attempted deception, has been deferred until June 1, 2001 so a report on his progress can be made.

But Eric Whalley said: "As far as I am concerned Kelvin Clark is no longer welcome at this club."