BURY player boss Andy Preece has hit out at the racist element among the club's support, vowing to stamp out racial abuse at the club.

The player-manager was one of a number of players targeted by Bury fans during their visit to Torquay on Saturday, and Preece admits the behaviour of a minority of the club's support has given him concern.

'The incident on Saturday at Torquay was the tip of the iceberg, but from that things have escalated,' Preece admitted. 'Other things have been brought to my attention by the players and obviously the fans.

'It's not just directed at the visiting supporters and teams, but it is being aimed at our own players and their families. I will not stand by and let that happen and I will make sure the club does not let it go on.

'Racist abuse that has been hurled at Chris Billy and myself, along with black players from other clubs, should not be happening, let alone from our own fans. I won't sit back and let this happen.'

The midfielder, who took over as player manager in 1999, has guided Bury to the playoff zone but admits the racist problem is disturbing him, calling on everyone involved in the club to make more of an effort when it presents itself.

Problem

'We have a problem at this football club that I genuinely was not aware of and it's something that I will not sit back on and let go on,' he vowed. 'This problem has to be met head on and sorted out.

'It's down to the players, the fans and myself to identify these people and to get them out of the club. It is obviously a deep-rooted problem hat has been going on for a while now.

'I have felt that some people were against me from day one and no matter what I did they would not change ' maybe it's because of the colour of my skin.'

The 35-year old said he realised that there was only a small minority of supporters subjecting fans to abuse, but said that they were spoiling it for the rest of the fans.

'After all we have gone through with relegation and administration and the uncertainty of everything, then to be coming out at the other end with a great position in the table, beating Bolton in the cup and all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes. This takes all the gloss off it.

'We have to make a standard show these people that they are not welcome here. The world 'fan' does not describe these people. They are using football as a platform and we do not want them here.'

Have you encountered the racist problem at Bury? What can be done to stamp out the problem? Have your say.

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