Northampton Town Football Club have issued the following statement
Northampton Town Football Club can confirm that following an internal investigation and discussions with parent club Shrewsbury Town, on loan striker James Collins has been fined the maximum allowable two weeks wages and warned of his future conduct.
James Collins said, “I cannot apologise enough for my actions and the pictures from my visit to Cheltenham Races yesterday. I have completely let myself, my family, the fans, and the two clubs that I represent down and I am sorry to everyone involved.
“My actions are not excusable and whilst the pictures are rather misleading in that there were not people below this balcony and it was only a grassed area there is still no defence to what happened.
“As a footballer I understand and appreciate that we are role models and this has only emphasised the negative stereotype of the modern footballer and for that I am truly sorry and disappointed in myself. It is now something that I will work hard to change.
“I do feel this is totally out of character and something that has embarrassed me and my family and I fully accept the club’s punishment. I will now focus on what I know I am extremely lucky to do for a career and that is to play football."
Chairman Kelvin Thomas said, “James knows full well of our disappointment in him and fully accepts that his actions have damaged the reputation of the two clubs and football in general. We cannot control what players do in their spare time, however we do expect a level of behaviour becoming of being a professional footballer and that has been made very clear to James.
“We feel that he has taken ownership of his actions and is truly sorry for what he has done. By firm and swift action, plus James’s contrition, we expect to draw a line under this matter and allow James to concentrate on rebuilding his reputation as a professional footballer.”