THE irony of last week's SPFL sponsorship announcement was not lost on those who have come to hold Scottish football close to their hearts.

Ladbrokes, arguably Britain's biggest bookmaker, will now have its logo plastered across every trophy, league table, team sheet, advert and, funnily enough, betting coupon across the country as part of a two-year deal believed to be worth £4million.

Yet just over 24 hours after that announcement, Partick Thistle's Steven Lawless was facing the wrath of the Scottish Football Association for allegedly gambling on 513 matches. It is a parallel only the wacky and wonderful world of our national game could serve up.

Yesterday the 24-year-old forward appeared in front of a disciplinary panel at Hampden where he was found to have breached the SFA's rules, and was subsequently hit with a six-match ban, four of which are suspended until the end of next season pending any further contravention.

It is a verdict which leaves more questions than answers surrounding the guidelines. What is regarded by many as a code almost impossible to fully police and enforce, some may fail to see how such a punishment for an offence dating back as far as December 2012 will act as a deterrent to those within the game who still have the urge for a flutter.

The matter of sanctions and suspensions is far from the mind of Alan Archibald, Lawless' manager, though. Having grown up playing the game during an era where a footballer wouldn't think twice about stick a coupon on before a match, he accepts now it is an indulgence the men playing under him are now restricted from partaking in.

Having said that, he believes that dealing with the issue must go beyond the realms of disciplinary hearings and notices of complaint, and into the world of support and education to help players who may have developed issues with gambling.

"I think people should be helping the players not just giving them a ban. Yes they broke the rules and they were silly but the next step should be trying to help the players," said Archibald.

"I have seen a lot of stories saying he [Lawless] is a numpty but why don't they look at see if he has a problem first. I think there might be problems with other players too. The rules are don't bet, but if the rules are don't drink and you are an alcoholic, then you are still going to drink aren't you?"

Regarding the Ladbrokes sponsorship deal, he added: "It is what it is but it's more money to my budget. It is massive now and these companies are the ones with the money to go and do it. We just need to try and educate the players about gambling and help them if there is a problem.

"In my day it was something you did. You went for your pre-match meal then all of the boys went and put a coupon on. It was something that was just done but you can't do it now. It's a rule and you can't cross the line."

Of course, Archibald's loyalties and priorities don't lie with solving any deep-rooted problem in Scottish football, but with his own player and how he and the club move forward without history repeating itself.

The fourth Scottish player to fall foul of SFA disciplinary rule 33, Lawless' case is by far the most severe in terms of how many games involved, however, there is no suggestion that he took part in any of the matches he bet on.

Regardless, the sheer volume is enough to cause concern to Archibald that there may be an underlying issue that needs addressed. If so, he has pledged his full support.

"I will speak to Steven," said his manager. "A lot has been made about him, with people saying 'he's a stupid this and a stupid that'. Yes he broke the rules and he will be dealt with but there could be a problem there. I think that gets quickly brushed over.

"I don't think you make that many bets without maybe a problem there. We will give Steven all the help he needs if he has a problem. We will back him to the hilt.

"I think a different picture is painted of footballers, but they are vulnerable like anyone else. It doesn't matter what you do, be it work in an office or be a train driver, you can get sucked into gambling. It looks like Stevie has put a lot of bets on but we will sit down with him and deal with it internally but we want to help him."

Without the services of Lawless this weekend, Archibald is keen on ending a season of success on the right chord after a couple of recent bum notes. As well as having to deal with the betting saga surrounding his player, a 4-1 home defeat to Kilmarnock last weekend threatened to take the shine off what has been a promising chapter in the club's recent history.

Having consolidated their place in the Premiership last season in tenth, Thistle bettered that this term by securing eighth place. A trip to Motherwell tomorrow brings an opportunity to sign off in style before the pursuit of self-betterment is restarted the other side of summer.

"Our target is to progress," said Archibald. "We have finished eighth this season, so progression for us next season will be seventh or sixth. We know the league is going to get harder and it looks like a couple of other big budgets coming into the league - depending what happens with the play-offs.

"Hearts will be a massive addition so it is going to get tougher but anyone can beat anyone else on their day and as long as we are progressing then I will be happy."