Outgoing Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has been appointed to chair an expert panel on sports betting integrity. They will be asked to ensure current rules are sufficient and how to identify suspicious betting patterns.

A clear set of recommendations have been requested within six months.

Another aspect in the panel's work will be the education of sports men and women on the issue of sports betting corruption, and improving communication between the relevant parties involved in tackling it.

"I am delighted that Rick Parry has agreed to lead this vitally important work," said sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe.

"His expertise in the nation's most high profile sport, along with that of the other panel members, will give this project the impetus it needs to tackle sports betting corruption head-on.

"We cannot be complacent and need to act now to prevent this becoming a real threat to the integrity of sport.

Parry, who is leaving Anfield this summer after 12 years at Liverpool, added: "Integrity and sport must go hand-in-hand and anything that threatens that bond of trust has to be stamped out.

"I am confident that we can build on the work already done to ensure we have the toughest possible approach to corruption - protecting and preserving the reputation of sport."