The Liverpool goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux has returned to Swindon Town on loan after apologising for paying a £50 fine with 5,000 1p pieces.
The 21-year-old had played nine games for Swindon after joining them on a season-long loan, but was sent back to Anfield on Monday after he used the coins to pay his fine for turning up late to training.
The manager Mark Cooper told the BBC: “Lawrence is going to come back, he is very humble and very apologetic. He knows the way he behaved was wrong and he has been in the changing room after the game and apologised to the players.
“He asked them if they wanted him back and they all said yes. Lawrence is an exceptional young goalkeeper and it’s important he learns from this little mishap and it will benefit his career going forward.”
The Swindon manager said he appreciated the humour, but that it had been perhaps misguided. “I thought it was brilliant banter, but in the context it was the wrong way to go about it. We are giving him a second chance, and I’m sure he will be grateful.”
A club statement refered to the incident as “an individual indisrection”, saying Vigouroux had been called to a meeting in Liverpool by his parent club’s academy staff to explain his actions: “Following on from this meeting, Vigouroux has now returned to SN1 and will be available for selection again this weekend.”