CWMBRAN Town boss Sean Wharton has slammed the town's community for allowing the club to slide from challenging in Europe to being Welsh football also-rans.

Saturday's defeat by NEWI Cefn Druids in the Welsh Premier League all but condemned the Crows, the inaugural winners of the competition, to relegation.

And Crows legend Wharton revealed the extent of the dramatic fall from grace when he admitted the players and coaching staff are having to chip in to cover the cost of travelling to matches - all this at a club that once took on the likes of Celtic and Maccabi Haifa in Europe.

He said: "I read in the Argus that Newport County fans had paid for their players to stay in a hotel ahead of a game, well we have to chip in for a mini-bus to get to where we are playing.

"You look at the clubs and I honestly believe we are not miles apart in terms of playing ability but we need the community to be an active part of the club.

"You need people to take the club seriously and be involved and proactive. We have had so little support it makes you ask the question of whether Cwmbran cares about its football club.

"I live in the area and nobody seems to care enough. I have never known a club where people who say they care are happy to see us lose.

"If the club is to survive that has to be addressed. On the playing side we can start moving forward but it has to be encompass the community - I want everybody to be singing from the same hymn sheet."

Wharton's call to arms echoes that of former Crows boss Brian Coyne who said when departing his post in October that supporter apathy could drive the club out of business and that there were only 12 regular fans at the club.

But while Wharton is disheartened with matters off the pitch he has been delighted with the efforts of his inexperienced side in the battle against the drop and would happily head into another campaign with the same squad.

He said: "Don't look at Saturday as the reason why we are going down, look at other games in the season like Welshpool and Caernarfon - it was those games that got us into this situation.

"We actually put in a great run towards the end of the season and I can't fault the players - everybody gave everything they have got. Those that came in have done really well and I'm sure there will be a few clubs interested in them.

"I want to stay and I want to get the team back to where they belong but we need support and we need help. People and businesses in the town have let the club slip away, and the community needs to get behind Cwmbran Town and the players.

"We had a crucial midweek home game against Porthmadog and their fans outnumbered ours. We need more help and support.

"To be honest I don't know what the future holds. I need to speak to the secretary, chairman and players but as long as they want me to stay, I will ."