FORMER York City boss Neil Thompson has received hate-mail from irate Boston United fans.

The revelation comes as City get set to cross swords with their former manager at York Street on Boxing Day.

Thompson had come under fire following a poor run which saw Boston lose six successive games before Saturday's dramatic turnaround -- a 6-0 thrashing of Shrewsbury.

The result lifted the Pilgrims off the bottom of Division Three, and also ensured a planned anti-Thompson demonstration by some Boston fans was called off.

Thompson said: "I've had a couple of abusive and threatening letters.

"I don't want to go into details, but some of the things that were said were not right. If someone wants to stoop that low, then I think it's a poor show.

"We're there to be shot at and there's a line which you don't cross, but that's up to the individual who sent

them. I was going to chuck the letters in the bin, but we thought the police should be notified."

Reflecting on Boston's biggest win, Thompson admitted United had now set their standards ahead of the Boxing Day visit of City.

"Everything gelled against Shrewsbury, but it's only three points.

"It gives us a platform but that's all. We should enjoy it but not gloat about it.

"The players have shown that they're capable and they've got to back up that performance with a few more, starting with our game against York City."

Thompson's predecessor, Steve Evans, has been found guilty of impeding a Football Association inquiry into contract irregularities.

Evans was found guilty of both charges of impeding the inquiry but cleared of two charges of contract irregularities

Evans' former chairman Pat Malkinson was also found guilty of impeding the inquiry and of authorising illegal contracts. Both men will be punished at a separate FA hearing in January. Evans has said he will appeal.

Updated: 11:25 Tuesday, December 24, 2002