HAMILTON manager Brian Rice admitted that he was relieved to have faced the Scottish FA after reporting himself to the governing body for gambling infractions, but stressed that his recovery from his addiction will never be complete.

The 56-year-old Accies boss got in touch with the SFA after his betting addiction got out of hand and while he said that he will never put the matter fully to bed, he feels refreshed after being truly honest with himself.

"Today’s been a big day," he said. "It’s been hanging over me since I reported myself. I don’t want to use the word closure because there’s never closure. My recovery is on a day-to-day basis. But I can now move on with my life.

Glasgow Times:

"You can never put it away because you always need to remember what got you there in the first place to use it as a tool so that it never happens again. I got a very, very fair hearing, the compliance officer and the SFA have been fantastic. The way it’s all been dealt with today, I couldn’t ask for any more. I done wrong, I held my hands up and I’ve been punished; deservedly so.

"Honesty is the way forward. When you’ve got an addiction, you’re not honest and the first person you need to be honest with is yourself. I’m solely to blame, no-one else, so I’ve had to admit that to myself. When you’re an addict you tell lies to yourself, you don’t see the real person in the mirror. Now I can look in the mirror and see the real person."

Rice believes that gambling in Scottish football is a widespread problem and despite receiving a touchline ban, he remains hopeful that his actions could inspire someone else to face their own demons.

"I’ve been contacted by professional players, part-time players and people outside of the football fraternity through emails, letters and discreet letters asking for a little bit of help and advice," he said. "I’ve had to give them the advice that I got when I was seeking help. There’s people out there wanting help, 100 percent.

Glasgow Times:

"If I can help one person, one innocent family, then everything I’ve done when coming out and self-reporting has been worthwhile. No matter what the ban would have been, if I’ve helped one person then it’s all worthwhile because I know where it takes you.

"I know the devastation, the carnage, what it does to loved ones. Just helping one person would make everything worthwhile. And the decision I made to come forward was 100 percent correct. I’ve never doubted that since the day I done it. The way I feel now compared to the way I felt over the years, it’s completely different and it’s a better life."

The result of the SFA hearing was a 10-match ban, with five of those fixtures carrying a suspended sentence. Rice said that it would be difficult to prise himself away from the dugout at the Fountain of Youth Stadium but knows that the club are in good hands - and that the punishment will help him in his personal recovery.

Glasgow Times:

"I can’t be on the bench for the games, I understand that," he added. "That’s my punishment because I done wrong. It’s going to be very difficult for me because I get so engrossed in the game. I get caught up in it but that’s my punishment so I’ve absolutely no qualms about that. I’ll take it on the chin. I’ve got great backroom staff there at the club that I trust 100 percent.

"I appreciate all the support I’ve got. It’s been overwhelming but at the end of the day I knew the rules and I broke the rules, so I deserve to be punished."