CREWE Alex Chairman John Bowler has announced he is stepping down as the criticism of the club flies around in the wake of the Sheldon review.

The League One club's chairman says it was always his intention to leave his role after the publication of the inquiry into child sexual abuse in football, which raised serious doubt that Bowler and members of his former board "did enough" to prevent paedophile Barry Bennell's activities.

This week local politicians have called for the chairman to step aside and today he told his fellow directors of his plans he was stepping down from the board with immediate effect before issuing a statement in which he apologised to Crewe Alex fans that the name of the club had been "tarnished"

He said: "I always intended to do so following the conclusion of the Sheldon review into child abuse in football.

"As the only person left with an association to that era I truly believe it was important for me to see it through to conclusion.

"I am satisfied with the findings of the review that found the club did not have the knowledge of the Barry Bennell's heinious crimes . I will always be deeply appalled and sorry that those young players and families suffered at the hands of the evil predator I personally and sincerely apologise to them all for their suffering.

"Crewe Alex is a community-based club with good people. I apologise to all our supporters that the name of the club has been tarnished.

"I have worked on the formation of a new board and know they will do all they can to move the club forward."