CROWS chairmen from the past and the present have joined manager Sean Wharton in hitting out at the apathy in Cwmbran towards the club.

Wharton said in yesterday's Argus that the lack of support for the club from the community made him wonder whether the town cared about their fate.

With the Crows needing a miracle to avoid finishing in the Welsh Premier League drop-zone he urged people to get involved with the club.

Now his view has been reinforced up by current chairman Mike Lewis and past benefactor John Colley, both of whom highlighted the lack of backing and pleaded for support.

"There seems to be a complete lack of interest within the local community about the club," said Mr Lewis. "What we need is to generate some sort of backing."

"There seems to be a general apathy for football in the area and what we need to do is attract them to the game, but that's easier said than done.

"Even in the last home fixture we allowed the first 70 people to come in for free, and we just about got that.

"It has always been the case that we have been pleading for help but now it is crunch time and it may hit home and stoke things up. We need it sooner rather than later and whether it's individuals or businesses we just need people to get in touch."

It has been a dramatic fall from grace for the Crows, who were inaugural winners of the Welsh Premier League and who have competed in the European Champions Cup, UEFA Cup, Cup WInners' Cup and Inter Toto Cup - a feat only matched by Italian giants Juventus.

But former chairman Colley says it was even a struggle when competing on the European stage and when envious clubs were often asking for the secret of their success.

He said: "The club put the town on the map but it has always been a struggle and it is amazing to think of what was achieved with so little support.

"There's a lot of history that the town can be proud of but what is needed is people and businesses to help the club bounce back."

But for all the problems the club is facing off the park the current chairman is sure that Wharton can help the club bounce back on the Cwmbran Stadium turf, whatever the level.

Mr Lewis said: "I can't fault Sean, he has been absolutely tremendous. Unfortunately the budget has meant he has had to look for inexperienced players but what he has done with them has been brilliant.

"The future of the club is with those youngsters and I just hope that the town can get behind Sean and the team."