High-flying Atherstone Town have called in the police over accusations of matchday racist abuse by their own fans as the club throw a protective arm around a "disgusted" playing staff threatening to walk away from a crisis which has already claimed the top tier of football management.

The promotion-seeking Sheepy Road club have reiterated a zero tolerance policy, imposing lifetime bans on three supporters identified in the allegations against Stafford Town goalkeeper Samuel Amedu.

Adders released a statement this afternoon admitting they would be taking "in-house" control of the team which had been enjoying a season of unprecedented success until the weekend events robbed them of manager Scott Rickards, coach Mike Fowler and long-time club servant, secretary Dave Turner.

The trio quit after the Midland Football Division One fixture at the Evans Park ground – the easy 3-0 victory for the visitors being lost in the events of the day.

The club, on course for promotion to the MFL Premier with up to six games in hand on their leading rivals and just over a week away from a history-making last eight FA Vase home tie with Consett AFC, have attempted to close ranks following the drama.

On Sunday morning, chairman Brian Henney promised to root out "racist cancer within the club" and "immediately look after the players to whom we owe so much, and for whom this is the most serious of issues in football today".

He added: "These innocent guys are the current and the future, and we must show them the respect, loyalty and above all else our stone wall stance against any form of racism."

True to his word following a meeting with the players last night, he announced: "It has been agreed that the club will in-house manage the team going forward with immediate effect until further notice.

"Allegations of racial abuse from Saturday's game have now been passed to Staffordshire Police to investigate.

"The club stand firmly on a zero-tolerance policy to racism in this matter, and persons identified are the subject of immediate life-time bans. "

In a separate statement, the players roundly condemned "any form of racism", adding: "We will not accept or tolerate it.

"The recent racism amongst our own fans has left us disgusted and embarrassed to have to be associated with it.

"We understand that the culprits are under a life-time ban from the ground and the matter is now under police investigation.

"We would like to place on record that if any more of this disgusting behaviour happens, we will be unwilling to represent Atherstone Town CFC again."

They went on: "We appeal to the true Atherstone fans to continue to support the team, but more importantly if you hear or are aware of any abuse or blatant use of obscene language, to out the individual/s, because this is the only way the situation can improve."

They thanked the departing managerial duo of Rickards and Fowler, for their "hard work, dedication and being two all-round top class people.

The players added: "We fully understand that given their full-time positions within football, it would have been very difficult to stay on at Atherstone Town CFC.

"They have left on really good terms with us as players and have our utmost respect.

"Going forward the team will be managed in-house. We feel we already have the tools given to us by Scott and Mike, to end this turbulent season on a high.

"Finally, contrary to what people may think, we have not taken this decision to continue playing lightly.

"We have all worked very hard to get to this position and refuse to let the mindless idiots destroy it for us.

"We respect the management's stance on this matter, but we feel it is not the only way to stand up for what we believe in."

Fans have taken to social media to have their say on the events of the last few days.

Warwickshire Jeremy posted: "Well done to Brian Henney sticking by the club. He knows that the vast majority of supporters are against this sort of behaviour .

"The trouble is with huge success there will always be something to try and bring it down.

"I think that all we can do is get behind the club more than ever to show everybody this isn't a true reflection of the club."

Andy Baxter added: "Well said Brian. The club is so much more than this horrible minority of supporters."

Steve Blount pleaded for a change of heart of the quitting trio: "Please please, I would like all three of you to reconsider your decisions.

"Everyone has worked so hard to get to where we are and for what?"

Before the club statements, Richard Moore posted: "I was at the game on Saturday and at both matches with Worcester and the actions taken in these resignations is in no way proportional to anything that could have possibly taken place in the stands at any of those games, or from what we have been led to believe at least.

"Even talking to people close to the club who have been going for 50 years are in the dark and are completely baffled.

"All of my feelings about racism and how abhorrent it is are expressed above and any offending 'supporters' rightly banned but if the season is going to be ruined on the eve of the club's biggest game and possibly even the club itself being tanked, then I think everyone has the right to know exactly what has occurred."

To follow the events of the weekend, click on the red button at the bottom of this story.

Nub News opinion: The club have acted, now let the police do their work and allow the players to concentrate on what they have been doing best – keeping the Adders flying high.