Crawley Town manager Steve Evans will serve a 12 match touchline ban at the start of the Football Conference season following two recent Appeal Board hearings.

An Appeal Board on 21 July reduced a four match touchline ban imposed by a Regulatory Commission in April to two matches. A £1,000 fine remained in place. This sanction was issued for improper conduct during a match against Woking on 26 January.

A second Appeal Board hearing on 22 July considered Mr Evans' appeal concerning four further improper conduct charges. These related to post-match media comments made following the Woking match and charges relating to conduct during matches against Northwich Victoria (15 March), Burton Albion (22 March) and Aldershot Town (24 March).

At a Regulatory Commission hearing on 29 May, Evans was given a two month suspension from all football and football activity suspended until the end of the 2008-09 season. The Appeal Board upheld Mr Evans' appeal on the grounds that the sanction was excessive.

Having considered all evidence placed before them, the Appeal Board varied the decision as follows:

(i) Mr Evans to receive a 20 match touch line ban, 10 of which are suspended until the end of the 2009-10 season, and will be invoked upon a proven breach of FA Rule E3 in addition to any subsequent punishment imposed

(ii)  The 10 matches to be served shall commence after the two match suspension at the start of the Football Conference season 2008-09.

The details of the touch line ban for these 10 matches are as follows:

(i) For a period of 120 minutes before and after home fixtures, and 90 minutes before and after away fixtures, Mr Evans is not permitted to have any direct contact with any members of his playing squad or replacements. During this time Mr Evans is not permitted to enter the dressing room/changing area

(ii) Mr Evans is not permitted to have any contact (direct or non-direct) with match officials on match days

(iii) Mr Evans is not permitted to enter the technical area and during each fixture must be seated in the directors’ box. If no directors’ box is available, Mr Evans must be seated as far away as reasonably possible from both the technical area and opposing supporters.