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John Yems: Crawley Town part company with manager amid racism allegations

A former Crawley Town player alleged to Sky the club's changing room was segregated on racial grounds and players from ethnic minorities were made to change away from their white team-mates; Yems was suspended on April 23 amid three separate investigations

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Image: John Yems has left Crawley Town

Crawley Town have parted company with manager John Yems after concluding its investigation into their coach folllowing several allegations of racism.

It comes after a former Crawley player alleged to Sky the club's changing room was segregated on racial grounds, with players from ethnic minorities made to change away from their white team-mates.

Sky Sports News reported on Wednesday seven Crawley players have come forward with allegations that Yems used discriminatory language and behaviour against his own players.

Yems was suspended by his employers late last month in light of what the League Two club called "serious and credible" allegations. Crawley has told Sky Sports News that their own investigation into Yems' alleged behaviour has come to a close, but the FA and the PFA are still continuing their own respective probes.

A Crawley spokesperson told Sky Sports News on Friday: "Our investigation has concluded as it pertains to our evaluation of John Yems' employment status with the club; however, we are continuing to coordinate and work in cooperation with The FA as it continues in its investigation."

John Yems
Image: John Yems

Crawley made no mention of the allegations or investigations on the matter in their public club statement announcing Yems' departure, with the League Two side now embarking on a "global search" for a new manager. Assistant manager Lewis Young will take charge of this weekend's trip to Oldham Athletic.

"We're looking forward to the next era of Crawley Town Football Club," said Preston Johnson, co-chairman of Crawley Town FC. "We have an opportunity to build on more than 125 years of rich history and take this club to the next level.

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"We're eager to partner with our players and supporters as we build a team and community that Red Devils fans can continue to be proud of - both on and off the pitch."

Sky Sports News has been told that the PFA has offered counselling and support to those who have raised the allegations or been affected by them.

The club's new American owners, who bought Crawley last month, held a fans forum at the ground this week, but supporters were told they could not ask questions about the matter because of ongoing investigations.

Johnson and Eben Smith, who purchased the club with money raised from cryptocurrency investments, have refused to be interviewed on the matter.

Dorsett: 'Naive' to think issues will go away with Yems exit

Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett:

"I'm not sure there will be very many people who will welcome the tone of Crawley's statement which talks about a positive future and the rich history of the past.

"The history that people connected with football and Crawley Town that I've been speaking to in the last few days are concerned with is the recent history and the serious allegations against John Yems.

"I think it would be incredibly naïve to think that those issues would just be going away and ignored now that John Yems has left his role as manager of Crawley.

"Crucially, there's no reference in that statement to the serious allegations that were levelled to Crawley Town's manager."

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