A Burnley website where a football linesman has been accused of posting comments about Blackpool Football Club has been inundated with messages of support for him.

Neil Yates, from Rishton, is being investigated by the Football Association after a complaint was received about his comments on the ClaretsMad website.

He is well known on the site and comments apparently made by him appeared there shortly after last week's League One clash between Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers.

Mr Yates had been hit by a cigarette lighter during the game.

The comments referred to Blackpool as "Donkey-lashers", Doncaster as "abysmal", the pies at Bloomfield Road as "barely edible" and the stadium "half built".

A complaint was made to the Football League, which referred it to the FA to see if there were grounds for an improper conduct charge.

In the meantime, the original post was removed from the website - but that hasn't stopped around 70 fans logging on to show support for Mr Yates.

Many refer to the situation as ridiculous. Others say the situation has been blown out of all proportion while some offers of legal support have been made.

The administrator of the site, who goes under the name Claret Tony, has stated on the site: "I think we are all aware his comments have been taken out of context."