Harriers boss may face probe

Exeter's Lee Elam was grounded in a clash with Yates seconds after the final whistle of Harriers' 2-0 Conference defeat on Saturday.

And the Aggborough boss now faces an anxious wait to see whether Exeter players or officials or match referee Amy Rayner, from Staffordshire, report the incident to the FA.Yates appeared to strike midfielder Elam as the Harriers boss marched onto the pitch at the final whistle, apparently heading towards referee Rayner.

She refused to speak to the media after the match but is reported to have told Exeter players she did see the incident between Yates and Elam that sparked a huge melee involving players and officials of both clubs.

Yates also remained silent after the final whistle, refusing requests for interviews and sending assistant manager Neil Howarth to face the media instead.

And Howarth insisted he had not witnessed the incident. He said: "I can tell you very little to be honest. I've heard little things about something happening but I didn't see anything myself.

"I'm sure he will be big enough and honest enough to hold his hands up if he has done anything wrong."

The clash between Yates and Elam followed an ill-tempered game in which Elam's actions prompted fury on the Harriers bench.

Yates and his coaching staff objected on numerous occasions about alleged dives by the Grecians' wide man and Yates shouted furiously at the referee when Elam kicked the ball away and went unpunished.

At the final whistle Yates stormed onto the pitch and clashed with Elam, who was left on the floor. A Kidderminster Harriers spokesman said today: "There is no comment from the club or Mr Yates." No-one from Exeter was available to comment.