The embattled chairman of crisis-torn Crawley Town football club has dismissed his bankruptcy as an "administrative issue" and vowed to carry on despite increasing criticism from fans.

The Nationwide Conference league club was responding to Friday's front page exclusive story in The Argus which revealed Chas Majeed, of Goring Road, Worthing, was barred from running businesses after being declared insolvent in May 2004.

In a statement the club said: "The issue raised recently in the local media regarding bankruptcy is simply an administrative issue of updating records.

"Crawley Town Football Club has been in constant liaison with the Conference and the FA and both representations are aware of Chas's role as chairman.

"Following the recent reports in the media, the Conference has confirmed the club will not be suspended from the league, nor will any actions be pursued.

"Chas Majeed is frustrated and disappointed with the media's continuous speculation on this matter.

"His priority is to focus on the team and football issues, as opposed to dealing with such turbulent accusations.

"He is on the same side as the fans and wants to make the club a success."

Before Saturday's home game against Scarborough, which the Reds won 2-0, fans told The Argus they were deeply concerned by The Argus's revelations.

Some called for the resignations of Mr Majeed and his brother Azwar, who is listed with Companies House as the sole director and owner of the club through his off-licence firm SA Retail.

Steve Chambers, 48, from Haywards Heath, said: "I'm not convinced the club will be here for much longer. Who else is going to run it?"

Colin Puddephatt, 62, who played for the Reds in the early Sixties, said: "The current plight is disastrous considering what supporters have been through this season.

"We need someone to bring stability to the club."

Ian Jenkins, 45, of Southgate, Crawley, said: "It's all a bit of a mess.

"What we are concerned about is the financial implications and whether they will take the club out of the league. It would be a tragedy if we were relegated because of financial dealings."

Jane Hillman, 45, from Crawley, said: "The chairman is more of a businessman than a football person. We need change at the top."

Les Knight, 50, from Pound Hill, Crawley, said: "Fans are getting impatient for a change."

Supporters were stunned earlier this month when Mr Majeed put the entire squad up for sale and slashed wages by 50 per cent.

He claimed the club could go under if spending continued at the same rate.

Fans feared the club could be suspended from the league or fined if Mr Majeed, 36, is found to be involved in the management of the club.

It is a criminal offence for an undischarged bankrupt to be concerned in "promoting, forming or managing a limited company, or acting as a company director, without the court's permission, whether formally appointed as a director or not".

Sussex Police and the Football Association have launched an investigation into The Argus's revelations about Mr Majeed, which have also been passed on to the Department of Trade and Industry.