Throughout six months without kicking a competitive ball, Chris Maguire had plenty time to ponder his folly of betting on football.
The former Aberdeen and Sunderland player's career was placed in limbo when he was hit with FA gambling charges.
Aware of what was coming down the tracks last April, Maguire wasn’t charged until three games into this season and suspended indefinitely by Lincoln City.
The 34-year-old admitted to some breaches but successfully contested several others and the case, via personal hearings and appeals, wore on for months.
The prospect of a ban meant clubs were reluctant to commit to a contract with the former Scotland cap.
It took until January for the final verdict of a six-week backdated suspension to be passed on.
Thanks to the offer of training services from Kilmarnock then a short-term deal at Ayr United, Maguire is back in business and eyeing the Scottish Cup final four.
“I was left without a club from the start of the season until January, which had a major impact on me,” admits Maguire.
“I admitted to several, very limited breaches and put my hands up.
“But it went on and on and that was disappointing. The FA tried to charge me with 52 counts.
“It was then about trying to prove that and fighting my corner. Thankfully, it got reduced.
“But it dragged on until the New Year and that put teams off potentially signing me. It’s been draining, it’s been tough.”
Maguire did admit to charges, including one of placing a football accumulator in a betting shop in Lincoln.
“Listen, I’m human, everyone makes mistakes,” he said. “I’m not the first player to do that and certainly won’t be the last.
“But you go through difficult times in your life. Being away from home, being away from my kids, it was a difficult period when, stupidly, I did that.
“I got an injury for the first time in my career, my head was all over the place.
“I regret it. It’s not worth it, for what I placed, to be out that long. It’s cost me a hell of a lot more.
“It was minimum what I bet, more the fun side than anything else. It’s harsh but those are the rules.
“It’s crazy because every game you watch on TV is advertised by betting companies and encouraging people to bet.”
The time out took Maguire back to Aberdeen with his family and off to Pittodrie on weekends with youngest son Brodie.
“It was tough being on your own every day,” he admitted. “I would drop the kids off at school then head to the gym to do my own stuff.
“Saturdays were with Brodie, who is eight, at the Aberdeen games.
“He enjoyed it but that wasn’t a great time as Aberdeen were struggling.
“He wasn’t happy after the games! It was a bit of a struggle for me, I was just checking results of teams I’d played with before.
“Brodie is forever getting my old Aberdeen shirts out. His brother Aiden, though, is Celtic like me and his mum so it’s a bit funny in the house.”
Maguire’s former Sheffield Wednesday coach Lee Bullen paid a visit twice to the north east with Ayr, beating Cove in both league and cup.
Maguire said: “I had a couple of other offers but I knew the manager and saw a couple of games, including when they were at Cove.
“I was impressed with how they played, I looked at the table. There’s a chance of promotion and to get to a semi-final.
“Ayr has a great opportunity to win something and it would be great to be a part of that.”
