FORMER Swindon Town striker James Collins is one of two footballers to have been banned from all racecourses in Britain after being pictured publicly urinating at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Striker Collins, 25, and MK Dons midfielder Samir Carruthers were pictured relieving themselves on a balcony whilst surrounded by racegoers and the ex-Town man was pictured using a glass to pour his urine away.

The pair publicly apologised for their behaviour after images of their behaviour appeared in the national media and the British Horseracing Authority have now banned the pair – Collins can appeal the ban after two years while Carruthers can do the same after a year.

Collins joined Swindon from Shrewsbury in June 2012 but his purchase contributed to the club entering a transfer embargo, with Town paying more than £500,000 in tribunal fees to settle the signings of the former Republic of Ireland U21 international and Troy Archibald-Henville.

The frontman, who now plays for Crawley Town, scored 18 goals in 51 appearances for Swindon, including a hat-trick in a 4-3 second-round League Cup victory over Premier League Stoke City, before departing to join Hibernian in July 2013.

  • AFC Wimbledon’s ambition to return to their original Plough Lane home has moved a step closer after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan formally handed the decision back to Merton Council.

Wimbledon were handed planning permission to build a new stadium close to their former home in December 2015 but ex-London mayor Boris Johnson called the plans in for review in March.

After a consultation, Khan, who replaced Johnson in May, has handed the application back to Merton Council.

  • DESPITE playing 90 minutes against Town on Saturday, striker JJ Hooper has left Port Vale to rejoin Northampton Town on loan until January.
  • DEFENDER John Brayford has returned to Burton Albion on a season-long loan deal from Sheffield United.

Meanwhile, midfielder Martyn Woolford has also departed Bramall Lane, signing a one-year deal with Fleetwood Town after being released by the Blades.