A FOOTBALL club has slapped an immediate ban on people posting "nasty suggestions" on its official website amid fears they could spark crowd trouble.

Ahead of non-league Harrogate Town's home match against Ossett Town on Saturday, a message marked for the attention of "nastyz" talked of taunting the away fans.

Supporters were shocked when trouble threatened to flare at the Wetherby Road ground, which has never been blighted by unruly behaviour. Things became so heated during the match that officials ordered the bar to be closed.

The website postings, referred to by one sender as "ready to get nasty" on the official Harrogate Town message board have brought swift action from the club.

Managing director Nigel Pleasants condemned the comments and said the senders would be banned immediately from the site.

If similar messages continued via other routes, the club would pull the plug on the message board, he said