DARWEN Cricket Club may face disciplinary action from the Northern Premier League over alleged comments made to opposition players during their top-of-the-table clash with Morecambe last Saturday.

Darwen chairman Pete Lamster said he was aware one of his players had been accused of racial abuse towards a Morecambe player - although he would not name either team member.

But Lamster said the player whose name had been mentioned "categorically denied" making any derogatory comment.

Morecambe secretary Brian Wilson said his club would discuss at a committee meeting next Monday whether to lodge a complaint against Darwen.

If a complaint was lodged, it would then be left to a league disciplinary committee to decide if there should be any further action.

Lamster said the club could be docked points or fined, and the player could be suspended if the committee decided any offence had taken place.

Lamster said: "The league are waiting for the written report from Morecambe. Obviously, we have not seen that so we don't know what the allegations are.

"There's one of a racial nature which we have spoken to the player about and he has denied it categorically.

"We haven't seen anything in writing, we only know what has been said in the papers and over the telephone.

"There will obviously have to be a league disciplinary hearing in the

future and we will be representing our player.

"All I can say is he has denied making racial comments."

Lamster admitted the game, which could have a major bearing on the destination of the title, had been played in high-spirits.

"I think there is always banter at cricket matches and in all amateur sports. It was a vital game," he said.

"I was watching and I didn't know anything had gone on because there was no reaction from any of the players on the field.

"It wasn't even mentioned in the bar after the game. The first I knew was when a guy from the Morecambe paper rang me.

"There are all sorts of sanctions that could be imposed, not just on the player but on the club as well.

"But we have had a West Indian pro, Keith Semple, for the last three years. Our players are not racist, they are just not."

Morecambe secretary Brian Wilson said: "I wasn't at the match but we have had reports of hassle during the game.

"It has been mentioned to the league but not formally as yet. We will have a committee meeting on Monday to decide what to do."

The vice-chairman of the league's executive committee, Norman Poole, said: "There are all sorts of sanctions, points deductions, fines, but I can't pre-judge because we have had no complaint so far. "We certainly haven't dealt with something like this for a number of years."

Northern League Chairman Norman Brown was at the game until lunch and said if the league received a formal complaint they would treat the matter very seriously. He said: "If we do receive any complaint we will look into it very closely indeed and look at it very seriously.

"We have never had a complaint of racist comments before and in line with ECB directives we will investigate the claims.''

DARWEN are at home to Preston tomorrow while Chorley travel to Lancaster.