Player bust-up leaves steward out cold

The steward Peter Gormer who was knocked out said last night "there are no hard feelings". Mr Gormer received a blow to his left cheek when tried to intervene in the bust-up involving three Albion players after the game. Mr Gormer and other eyewitnesses said the players were goalkeeper Alan Miller, central defender Paul Raven and wing-back Jason Van Blerk. Mr Gormer said "I saw a fight break out between the players and its part of my job to intervene. I went in to break it up but I couldn't tell you what happened after that as I was knocked out cold. I didn't come around for a few minutes and I was suffering from shock when I did but when I started to feel better the three players and Albion chief executive John Wile spoke to me personally to apologise and there are no hard feelings. Mr Wile assured me the club would discipline the players and I am happy with that I won't be pressing charges."

At a press conference held after the incident Mr Wile declined to confirm the names of the players involved, but said they would be disciplined internally by the club. Eyewitnesses said two players were swearing at each other in the post-match warm down on the pitch after the crowd had gone. Albion players pulled them apart but there was further trouble between team-mates in the passage outside the dressing rooms. About an hour after the incident Albion players filed on to their team coach which pulled away at 6pm.

There is expected to be a meeting early today between Brian Little and John Wile to discuss the punishment for the Albion players involved. The players could lose two weeks pay if given the maximum penalty. The scuffle capped one of the worst weeks in Albions history. The founder members of the football league first sold their star winger, without manager Brian Little's knowledge, and on Friday chairman Tony Hale resigned.