CREWE chairman John Bowler has confirmed that the League Two club are investigating historic allegations of sexual abuse involving former youth coach and scout Barry Bennell.

The claims resurfaced last week when ex-player Andy Woodward told national newspaper The Guardian how he was abused by Bennell when he was a youth player at Crewe.

Bennell, now 62, was a successful talent scout and youth coach in the 1980s and 1990s, working with Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke and junior clubs across the midlands and north west.

He was jailed for nine years in 1998 after pleading guilty to sexual offences.

Woodward's Guardian interview and subsequent appearance on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire Show have prompted six people to contact Cheshire Police with further allegations, which are currently being investigated.

With pressure mounting on Crewe, a statement has been issued on the club's website.

"Crewe Alexandra Football Club appreciate that concern has been expressed about the delay in the club making any comment to recent media coverage," said Bowler, who has been on the board at Gresty Road since 1980.

"When things come out of the blue like this, you first want to make inquiries and reflect from within. That is the process we started last week.

"We are a proud football club and would always take any allegation seriously. Any form of abuse has no place in football or society.

"We have already concurred with the statements made by the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League that described Andy Woodward's ordeal as 'heart breaking' and praised him for his 'immense courage'."

Woodward, who went on to have stints with Bury and Sheffield United, told The Guardian: "My life has been ruined until the age of 43, but how many others are there?

"I'm talking about hundreds of children who Barry Bennell cherry-picked for various football teams and who now, as adults, might still be living with that awful fear."

Sue Ravenlaw, head of equality and safeguarding at the Football Association, said she applauded Woodward's courage for speaking out.

"Reading Andy Woodward's story in The Guardian was heartbreaking and we applaud his immense courage in coming forward to speak about the horrific abuse he suffered. Barry Bennell remains permanently suspended from football, in line with our procedures," she said.

"The FA takes all matters of safeguarding and child protection seriously and we encourage anyone who may have experienced or is experiencing abuse in football to contact the NSPCC's confidential 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000 or Childline for children and young people on 0800 1111."

Cheshire Police has also urged anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence, no matter how long ago, to contact the force on 101.

Acting Detective Sergeant Ben Hilton, of Cheshire Police's public protection unit, said: "As of Monday 21 November we have been made aware of six other people who have come forward wishing to speak to the police.

"We are currently in the process of making contact with the six people, and at this stage no one else is under investigation.

"Cheshire Constabulary takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and has specialist trained officers to provide advice and support."