Player faces hoax call probe

Paul Browne previously played for Arbroath and Raith

Raith Rovers are to take action against Paul Browne after it was claimed that their former captain was the hoax caller who induced Eddie Forrest to cancel his contract with Arbroath.

Forrest says Browne pleaded with him to back his story that it was a friend who impersonated Raith chairman Danny Smith in an earlier telephone call and offered him a bogus full-time contract.

"Paul phoned on Friday to apologise and tell me he put his mate up to making the call," Forrest told the Sunday Mail newspaper.

"He was sh.....g himself about the situation and said he never meant it to go this far.

"Then he asked me to say it was his mate who made the call without his knowledge.

The club is both astonished and appalled at our former player's actions Raith Rovers statement

"He must have known the identity of the caller would be found when I asked my mobile phone company to trace the number.

"I was close to getting the police involved before he called to own up."

Arbroath, whom the 24-year-old Forrest had joined just days earlier, agreed to nullify his contract after he said he would prefer to join the Second Division champions instead of the part-time club they replaced in Division One.

The Angus club then signed Browne, who had been on loan with Arbroath last season, in his place only to withdraw that offer once the hoax call story broke.

"I can't believe what he did," said Forrest. "I'd never have suspected a player would do this to another professional."

Raith's official website also claims that it was Browne who impersonated Smith.

According to a Rovers statement: "It is with deep regret that we now have to report that our former club captain, Paul Browne, personally confessed to the board of directors at its meeting late on Friday afternoon that he had made the hoax calls to fellow professional Eddie Forrest offering him a contract with Raith Rovers FC.

"He further admitted inducing Eddie to cancel his new contract with Arbroath FC.

Eddie Forrest (left) previously played for Airdrieonians

"The club is both astonished and appalled at our former player's actions and the matter is being reported to the appropriate authorities."

Raith's statement followed a full-scale enquiry by the club.

Saturday morning newspapers had hailed Browne for standing aside.

A spokesman for Browne had told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Paul does not want to sign for Arbroath as he feels Eddie has been through enough this week."

Arbroath chairman John Christison had added: "We have now asked Eddie to take over the captaincy."

Forrest had also come close to resigning from his other job, at a Glasgow leisure centre, after being offered the bogus full-time deal.

Neither Browne nor his agent were available for comment.

The 28-year-old, who started his career at Aston Villa, was on loan with Arbroath from Stark's Park until December but moved on to English non-league clubs Nuneaton and Hinckley United.