BACUP defender Gary Lloyd has issued an apology following an incident during a North West Counties League Division Two match.

The 31-year-old was alleged to have lunged at referee Mike Shaw, a police constable from Macclesfield, after being dismissed during Bacup's clash with Stone Dominoes on Saturday.

"I am horrified but I can't say much about it as there will be a hearing before the Lancashire FA," said Lloyd, from Manchester, who signed for Bacup in February.

"But I wish to apologise to the manager Brent Peters, the secretary Frank Manning and the Board of Directors for the shame I have brought on the club.

"I also wish to apologise to the Bacup supporters and the rest of my team-mates who were left to battle for 60 minutes without me against a team who are second or third in the league.

"I would just like to make a public apology to all of them."

A date hasn't been set for the hearing as the Lancashire FA were still waiting for the referees' report.

But Bacup have suspended the player until the incident has been fully investigated. Lloyd could face a life-time ban from any football.