Following his departure from football in September 2022 after breaching FA rules on betting, Chris Maguire ends his six-month exile from the sport with a return to Scottish Championship side Ayr United, according to the club.
The Scottish international spent numerous years in the Football League playing for the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford United, Sunderland and many more.
The 34-year-old is an experienced attacker, however, was released from Lincoln when the charges became public.
He was announced as a signing for Hartlepool United soon after his Lincoln release, but the contract was blocked by football’s governing bodies due to the additional clauses put into the contract.
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At first, Maguire was issued with a fine and warning for breaching betting rules, after he was alleged to have placed 52 bets on football matches between March 2017 and February 2022. However, after an appeal by the FA, he was given a six-week ban from all football activities, but with the ban being backdated he was free to play immediately.
The striker has since been looking for a new club and has decided to travel back to his home country with the Honest Men.
Speaking to the Ayrshire Post Maguire said: “With the experience, I’ve got, I’d like to think I can bring something to the squad here. They’ve had a great season so far and there’s lots still to play for in the run-in.
“Football is all I’ve ever known, so for that to be taken away from me has been tough. It’s been a very frustrating time for me.
“I’m choking to get back out there and play again and make up for lost time. I had other options in the pipeline and didn’t want to rush into a decision.”
Ayr United currently sit 3rd in the Scottish Championship, as they attempt to push on for promotion to the top league.
Maguire has made 2 appearances for his national team and should bring the talent to threaten opposition with his goal-scoring ability, for his new side.
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Writer’s View
Maguire is a talented player who coming towards the end of his career, has taken the opportunity to head back to Scotland.
Playing in the Scottish Championship may actually be a level below his abilities, but after being out of the sport for nearly six months, it should be a good place to get his feet under him again.
Maguire showed he’s still a useful player from his previous season at Lincoln in League One, and with this deal being a short term contract, it allows him to get back to full fitness and then re-evaluate his options in the Summer.
