Acting Crawley head coach Lewis Young admitted he could understand the support for John Yems from fans after a third successive defeat since the 62-year-old’s suspension – 2-0 at home to Leyton Orient.

Yems was suspended on April 22 by Crawley pending an investigation over serious allegations.

The FA are looking into accusations of racist language by Yems towards several of the club’s players this season, with a group of Crawley players raising issues regarding Yems’ conduct and alleged use of offensive language.

Reds fans made their feelings clear throughout the whole game with chants of “We want our Yems back” and Young felt this was understandable considering Crawley have improved in his two-and-a-half years at the club.

Young said: ”The club has been on an upward trend since John has come in and if we beat Oldham in our last game we would have bettered our points tally of last season.”

Goals in each half from Theo Archibald and Aaron Drinan ended Crawley’s run of four successive home wins, and a smoke bomb had to be cleared late in stoppage time as fans chanted support for Yems.

“As far as I know the investigation is still going on,” said Young. “Whatever conversations I have had with John in this time will remain private.”

Former Reds defender Young, 32, was furious that Crawley were denied an equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time when a shot from James Tilley appeared to cross the line after hitting the underside of the bar.

Young added: “Tilley’s goal was two yards over the line. Everyone bar four people in the ground could see it was over the line.”

Eastbourne Borough lost 2-1 at home to Billericay in Vanarama National League south.

They go to Tonbridge Angels today for their penultimate league game as they prepare for the promotion play-offs.

Charley Walker scored for Sports after they went 2-0 down.

Boss Danny Bloor said: “We started really poorly. You can’t give any side a two-goal lead “But let’s not lose sight of what we have achieved so far this season.”