Junior Brakes chairman and Leamington FC officer Kevin Hancock was convicted of 'fraud by position', having attempted to gain £5,463 by 'dishonestly abusing' a position as an unofficial financial adviser to an individual between August 2006 and May this year.

He was given a 12-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Hancock, 48, of Woodloes Avenue South, is one of the volunteers responsible for the success of the Leamington Brakes junior setup, through which 12 teams from under-eight to under-15 play their football.

He acted as chairman for the organisation, which is separate from but strongly linked to Leamington FC.

At Leamington FC itself, he was a safety officer. Its chairman Jim Scott praised his "tremendous efforts" this week.

He said: "We have taken advice and as a consequence I have spoken to Kevin and he immediately tendered his resignation as chairman of the Junior Brakes and as an officer of Leamington FC. He has recognised that for the greater good he needs to stand down.

"The guy has put in a tremendous effort for us and for Brakes, which has built up 12 sides and achieved FA Charter Status in just two years. A significant amount of good has been done in the community, but he has looked at the circumstances and feels it appropriate to resign."

Mr Scott stressed the offences were not related to any footballing organisation. Former club chairman David Hucker said: "Having asked Kevin to take on the safety officer role, I am sad to hear this. It is a thankless task and few other clubs at our level could handle the size of crowds we get regularly."

Mr Hancock said his "world had been completely ripped apart" by the ending of a 25-year association with the club. He said he had "just tried to help someone out" and had been the victim of personally-motivated allegations.

The Courier had received letters from the parents of junior players questioning his ongoing involvement.