'GAMBLING BEAT FOOTBALL'.

SCOTLAND star Kevin Kyle yesterday revealed the secret gambling addiction that almost ruined his life.

The giant striker looked set for a glittering career after playing for Sunderland and winning a place in the national team in 2002, before injury and loss of form stalled him.

Kyle, 28, is now getting his career back on track at Kilmarnock after a troubled spell at Coventry City.

But he admitted he still struggles to control the compulsion that caused him to gamble away all his then pounds 7,000-a-week wages.

The Stranraer-born player said: "I've not really told anyone this before but I've been an addictive gambler for years. It's been with me since I was about 13... fruit machines, betting shops, casinos.

"I could have been a Premier League player for the rest of my days but because of the gambling I had other things on my mind.

"Some days at training, my head would be somewhere else completely, and that's maybe why my career has been so up and down.

"On a Friday night, I could be sitting in a hotel with my laptop, losing a few quid.

"The next morning, it's the day of a game and all I'm thinking about is what I've lost the night before. It definitely affected my football."

CAPTION(S):

ADDICT Kyle