A major sponsor of Crawley Town Football Club has withdrawn backing because it does not want to be associated with controversial owners the Majeeds.

Security firm Avsec has cancelled its £3,000-a-season man-of-the-match sponsorship because of negative publicity surrounding director Azwar Majeed and his brother Chas.

The newly-formed Devils Trust fans group says businesses want to invest in Crawley Town but are scared off by revelations about the Majeeds.

A source close to Avsec, which provides security advice and training for airlines, said: "Customers in that line of work might not want to do business with a firm linked to the club's owners after all that has happened.

"Avsec is a reputable firm and understandably I think it wants to distance itself from the controversy.

"It's not a huge amount of money but it is a bit worrying for the club when any sponsor pulls out."

The Nationwide Conference club has been dogged by scandal surrounding the off-field activities of the Majeeds, who bought Crawley Town last summer.

Supporters formed the Devil's Trust after they were spurred by worrying revelations about Crawley Town's controversial owners, the SA Group.

Chairman Chas Majeed was forced to stand down by the Football Association after The Argus exposed him as an undischarged bankrupt.

Avsec is owned by life-long Crawley Town fan Chris Barratt, who is also on the steering panel of the Devils Trust.

Mr Barratt said: "We can confirm that we have no plans to review our sponsorship of the man of the match next season.

"At this time we are unable to continue working with the club and we hope the situation will change in the future."

He said the company would be interested in supporting Crawley Town if there was a change in ownership and is thinking about sponsoring the Devils Trust.

Gil Roberts, spokeswoman for the Majeeds, said: "I can't comment on Avsec but we still have a number of sponsors interested in the club for next season.

"The media speculation about the SA Group and the minority of individuals driving it do not represent the vast majority of Crawley Town fans who are supportive of the owners."