YORK City Football Club’s manager Jackie McNamara has been convicted of fare dodging and ordered to pay nearly £500 in a fine and other court costs.
McNamara, 42, did not pay the £86 fare for a rail journey between Edinburgh and York on April 11.
At the time, the Minstermen were 23rd in League Two and deep into an ultimately unsuccessful fight to avoid relegation from the Football League.
McNamara has split his time between Edinburgh and York since he was appointed as manager to the Minstermen. His wife and children live in Scotland.
The City manager was summonsed to appear before York magistrates, with an address given in Loanhead, near Edinburgh.
He pleaded guilty to travelling on a railway between Edinburgh and York without obtaining a ticket.
He was fined £250 and ordered to pay a £30 statutory surcharge and £130 prosecution costs.
He was also ordered to pay £86 compensation to the train company.
McNamara did not respond to calls and messages from The Press about the court case.
The conviction came in a difficult week for the Bootham Crescent boss.
Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat last weekend at Barrow, he announced that he would be considering his position as the struggling club’s manager.
Reports then emerged that he did not take training on Monday, with the duties handed over to assistant-manager Simon Donnelly and goalkeeper-coach Craig Hinchliffe.
McNamara was criticised by some supporters after being pictured by the GentlemenoftheRoad Twitter account, picking up his new Audi A7 from Edinburgh car dealers Pike and Bambridge on the same morning.
The tweet was later deleted, but not before a City fan had taken a screen shot.
McNamara gave no explanation for why he had not been at the session when he returned to the club's Wigginton Road training base on Tuesday.
The club are currently two points above the National League relegation zone.
Jackie McNamara - clarification
WE reported York City FC manager Jackie McNamara’s conviction for travelling on a train without buying a ticket before boarding.
We have been asked to emphasise that the more serious charge of travelling with intent to avoid payment was dropped.
Mr McNamara explained that he took the train because he was short of time but actively attempted to buy a ticket once on board.
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