West Ham under-18s coach Mark Phillips is tonight understood to have been suspended as the club conducts an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a march he attended organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance.
The group has been condemned by anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out who contacted the club after learning of Phillips’ presence at the march.
The DFLA, a group formed of mainly middle-aged, white male football fans had planned a mass march from Park Lane to Whitehall. However, the demonstration descended into violence when anti-racist protesters attempted to block the DFLA’s route.
There is no suggestion that Phillips was involved in any of the incidents.
But tonight it has emerged that, as a result, the club has suspended Phillips as it probes events. The same procedure took place when former Director of Recruitment to the board Tony Henry was quizzed during a probe into accusations of racism which were first raised in the Mail.
We were told by sources close to events from outside the club that they had learned Phillips had now been suspended pending a full investigation.
