Steve Evans will consult his legal team before deciding whether to appeal against his latest FA ban.

The Crawley boss has been suspended from any matchday involvement for their next three games after he was found guilty of “improper conduct” during a fixture against Salisbury City in February.

Evans is also facing a ten-match touchline ban which was invoked following a previous case. He was also fined £750.

Evans was not available for comment yesterday but vice-chairman Steve Mansell insisted the club fully supported their manager and called the punishment “harsh”.

Mansell said: “Steve is consulting with his own legal people before deciding whether to appeal. The club respect what the FA think is right but we do think it’s harsh.

“It is one of the downsides of having a very passionate manager who wants to win everything. I’d rather have someone like that than a passive manager.

“He has my full support and I would assume that of the other board members as well.”

If Evans does not appeal he will miss the forthcoming games against Kettering, AFC Wimbledon and Rushden & Diamonds while the touchline ban would be in force until November 7.

Mansell added: “Steve is still going to be doing the training, watching the opposition on video at all hours of the day, be on the lookout for players to strengthen the squad and doing 98% of his job.

“His assistant Paul Raynor is outstanding so if Steve were banned I don’t think it would be the same problem it would be at other clubs.”

Evans served a 12-match touchline ban at the start of the last season in relation to offences committed in 2007.

Meanwhile the FA have defended the fact that it took nearly seven months for the case to be heard. He said: “There were a lot of adjournements and postponements along the way.”