Etherington: I'm fighting gambling addiction
West Ham's preparations for their relegation clash with Charlton were thrown into turmoil on Friday night when it emerged that winger Matthew Etherington is undergoing treatment for a gambling addiction.
Sportsmail understands that Etherington, who has confronted his demons and has the total support of his club while he is being treated, is being counselled at the renowned Sporting Chance clinic in Hampshire.
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The player told Sportsmail: "I have made a personal decision to take steps to tackle a gambling problem which has developed over recent times."
Etherington's gambling problem spiralled out of control towards the end of 2006, but the player has the backing of manager Alan Curbishley and chairman Eggert Magnusson.
The midfielder, who spent a week at the clinic last month and is receiving ongoing treatment, is likely to be named on the substitutes' bench at Charlton today as West Ham go in search of their first Premiership victory since December.
Etherington told Sportsmail: "I have made a personal decision to take steps to tackle my gambling problem.
"I would like to thank my family for their incredible support during this time, all of my team-mates at West Ham and manager Alan Curbishley for their understanding.
"As anyone who has suffered an addiction illness will know, this is not a problem that will disappear overnight and the Sporting Chance clinic is playing a key role in my recovery programme."
Etherington, who said he could not remember the last day in his life when he didn't have a bet, spent a residential week at Sporting Chance last month.
The Hammers midfielder believes that the clinic has given him the best possible chance of making a full recovery and sources close to Etherington claim he is making good progress after receiving intensive counselling.
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It is understood that he has not had a bet in three weeks. Etherington, who was told by his Hammers team-mates that there would be no shame if he sought help from professionals, is the second player at Upton Park to be be treated for gambling problems in the last three months.
Goalkeeper Roy Carroll was admitted into the Capio Nightingale rehabilitation clinic in November after he faced up to a drinking and gambling problem.
At the time, the Hammers players were betting vast sums of money on card schools on the team coach and at one stage Carroll owed one of his team-mates a staggering £30,000.
Peter Kay, chief executive at Sporting Chance, said: "Paul Martin, Matthew's agent, has been thoroughly professional and I cannot speak highly enough of him.
"Matthew has been incredibly brave by confronting his problems. It is difficult for players to come forward in the modern climate.
"For any person to put up their hands and say they have been beaten by an addiction takes immense courage and strength of character. Certain people say they are weak willed and need to pull themselves together, but the opposite is true: it is the strength of character that prevents them seeking help.
"I salute Matthew for the work he has done. He has given the same commitment to beating this problem as he does to his football.
"The PFA, the FA and the Premier League all support preventative education and Alan Curbishley has been a tower of strength."
The Sporting Chance Clinic was formed in 2000 by former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams, who was treated for alcoholism and drug addiction.
One of its patrons is his ex-Arsenal team-mate Paul Merson, who brought the issue of addiction in football into the spotlight in 1994 when he publicly admitted to suffering from gambling and alcohol problems.
