Peterborough United‘s director of football Barry Fry has been given a four-month ban from all football-related activity, three of which are suspended.
Fry, 73, will begin his suspension on February 1 after accepting a Football Association charge of misconduct in relation to betting.
He was also fined £35,000 for breaching FA Rule E8, the governing body announced on Thursday afternoon.
“Barry Fry has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for four months, three months of which are suspended for a period of two years,” an FA statement read.
“Peterborough United’s Director of Football accepted a charge for misconduct in relation to betting during the 2017/18 season in breach of FA Rule E8.
“He was also fined £35,000 following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing yesterday [30 January 2019]. The period of suspension will commence on 1 February 2019.”
Fry has been director of football at Peterborough for over a decade after previously being manager at London Road for just under 10 years.
The larger-than-life character began his playing career as a youth team member at Manchester United, but never made a first-team appearance and spent most of his time in the non-league game.
It was as a manager where he rose to prominence during two spells with Barnet, as well as stints at Southend, Birmingham and Peterborough.
The charge was first announced on December 12, with Posh chairman chairman Darragh MacAnthony describing the development at the time as a “storm in a teacup”.
MacAnthony tweeted: “Myself & club fully behind Barry on this. Storm in a teacup & will be resolved & full facts revealed once his hearing happens and finishes etc. Trust me on that.”
Despite MacAnthony’s message, Fry accepted the FA charge, which comes into effect from Friday.