THE former Essex cricketer who exposed fellow player Mervyn Westfield as a cheat claims corruption is rife in the game.

Fast bowler Tony Palladino, 28, notified the authorities his former team-mate had taken money to affect a game.

Westfield, 23, from Chelmsford, last week admitted accepting £6,000 to bowl poorly in a 40-over match against Durham on September 5, 2009.

Palladino, who now plays for Derbyshire, said he believed other county cricketers had also been involved with similar deals. He told a national newspaper: “You’d be a fool to think spot-fixing wasn’t happening at Essex before, and at other counties. It must have been.

“They [the bribers] have chosen county cricket because it’s not as high profile as international cricket. What worries me is there might be other cases which have been swept under the carpet.”

He said Westfield told him about the £6,000 bribe and had showed him the cash after a night out.

Palladino then approached his team captain and the police.

Westfield denied the allegation at a team meeting, but admitted the offence at the Old Bailey in London last week.

Palladino, who played for Essex between 2002 and 2010, also spoke of his concern similar problems might occur in future with young, impressionable players.

He explained: “The guys most at risk are in Merv’s situation – young, in the first team, but not earning much money.

“Merv could have gone on to play for England, but he made a bad decision and for £6,000 he’s lost his career. It’s such a waste.”

Westfield, who was earning about £20,000 a year at the time of the offence, is due back at the Old Bailey on February 10 for sentencing.