WORCESTER City have been left in turmoil after three directors resigned amid accusations they had been “deliberately excluded” from board meetings.

Jem Pitt said he and Rob Crean decided to join Mike Davis on City’s board in January to create a “unity” between the club and Worcester City Supporters’ Trust.

But all three have agreed to stand down, with Pitt saying they felt chairman Anthony Hampson and many of his directors were “misleading” shareholders and described their behaviour as “unacceptable”.

A meeting was held last Thursday where the board discussed the trust’s proposals to change the constitution of the club to a community benefit society (CBS).

But Pitt, Davis and Crean were left incensed when it emerged they had been left out of discussions with Hampson and vice-chairman Colin Layland, who has previously stated they had an alternative plan for the club.

“In the last few weeks, it has become apparent that other directors including the chairman and vice-chairman have been involved in meetings and discussions regarding the future of the football club which we have been deliberately excluded from,” Pitt said.

“Statements have been issued on behalf of the board, which we three had no knowledge of until they were published.

“We all attended the pre-EGM shareholders meeting last Thursday, only to find that we had been excluded from sitting at the top table, indeed the solicitor who had been engaged to represent the board - without our knowledge - was unaware of the fact that we were even directors at the club. “Despite publicly proclaiming that there was a ‘plan B’, we have never been made aware of any plans other than the short term survival plan presented at the meeting.

“Either there is no plan B, and the board are misleading shareholders, or there is a plan B, and the board are misleading us, their fellow directors.

“Either way, we believe this is unacceptable behaviour by the chairman and his board of directors.”

Since being appointed onto the board, Pitt said they have worked hard to make City “community-focussed” and had represented the club at various events.

But he admitted they felt they had been “ignored” by members of the board who refused to back their proposed constitutional changes, which will be voted on by shareholders at a general meeting next Thursday.

“We have met with council representatives before and after the local elections, and have remained open-minded about how our plans could come to fruition,” said Pitt, who is part of the trust’s bid to create a stadium in Perdiswell.

“We have worked with Supporters Direct to understand the options available for community ownership, and have discussed these with other clubs in similar positions.

“It is clear now that, despite our efforts, the board have chosen not only to ignore this position, but to completely disregard all other potential options around community and fan ownership.”

Davis has been a director since 2010 and Pitt said he had done “sterling work” to build strong links with children and parents and creating a “positive profile” of City.

But Pitt believed they had no choice but to quit and instead focus their efforts on the trust.

“We have taken our responsibilities as directors very seriously, being open and transparent in our dealings with our fellow directors, even where there has been disagreement,” Pitt added.

“It appears that certain other members of the boardroom have taken the decision not to reciprocate this.”

“We therefore have no choice other than to step down from the board as our efforts are better served working with the supporters trust.”