York City boss Billy McEwan has told any fans intent on causing trouble to stay away from the club's matches.

McEwan's comments came after he heard about unrest in the away end at half-time during Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Accrington Stanley.

The City manager accepted that Minstermen supporters were under provocation at the time but added that he had become disturbed by an "unsavoury element" that has attached itself to the club in recent matches.

Trouble flared up at the Crown Ground when away supporters accused Accrington assistant-manager Jimmy Bell of deliberately firing a shot into the visitors' end as he warmed up goalkeeper Darren Randolph before the beginning of the second half.

A group of away spectators reacted angrily and several spilled on to the pitch before order was restored.

The game had started without a police presence but several officers arrived midway through the second half and stationed themselves in front of the City fans.

Witness reports also claimed that on-loan Charlton teenager Randolph later incited City fans by signalling the score after Accrington had netted their second goal.

But McEwan has called on the club's supporters to avoid reacting to any provocation and also expressed his disgust at an incident during the Exeter City home match earlier this season which saw a visiting fan taken to hospital after being attacked outside the ground.

The City boss added that a reputation for trouble could hinder his rebuilding plans for the club because of the greater expense caused by bigger police presences.

McEwan said: "I was disappointed to hear about the crowd trouble on Saturday. It's not what we want at the club.

"I know there was intimidation of our supporters but I want our fans to be the best behaved in the Conference just like I want our players to be the best behaved on the pitch. Clayton Donaldson, Andy Bishop and Joe O'Neill all get provoked but you can't take the law into your own hands.

"Our fans have to be just as tolerant on the terraces because if we start needing a bigger police presence at our games that will lead to bigger charges and I can't afford to buy players as it is.

"There's an element I don't like at the club. We had the incident at Exeter and it's unsavoury.

"I don't want the image of York City tarnished and I don't want people coming to games for a fight. If people are going to drag the name of the club down, they can stay away."

City directors Steve Beck and Jason McGill went into the away end during the second half in an attempt to diffuse the situation at Accrington. Beck and McGill spoke to police who acknowledged the incitement from Bell and Randolph.

Frustration had also been caused by a lack of turnstile operators, which saw 250 City supporters still outside the ground for kick-off.

Officers at Accrington Police Station confirmed they had been called to the match by the home club following a disturbance but believed no further action would be taken against officials or fans from either team.

Updated: 09:22 Tuesday, November 01, 2005