AN Oldham Athletic director has called for an end to protests against the club, claiming that their actions risk 'killing the club'.

A section of Latics fans brought last night's Carabao Cup win temporarily to a halt after hurling tennis balls and other objects - including a flare - onto the pitch in the fifth minute of the second round tie at home to Accrington Stanley.

Then after the final whistle a group gathered in front of the directors' box to direct chants against owner Abdallah Lemsagam, and his sporting director brother Mo, before leaving the ground to congregate outside of the main stand where their demonstration continued long after the penalty shoot-out win.

Other supporters have opted to boycott home games and all other revenue streams for the club.

Club director Adam Morallee said the scenes and protests in all of their forms were making for a "dire situation that has got to change".

The Oldham Times' requests for an interview with the club's hierarchy have been declined.

However, Morallee was on talkSPORT radio this morning, and said: "Last night directors were staying in the club because they couldn't leave, because there were supporters surrounding people's cars, calling them this, that and the other and threatening to beat them up. It's just not acceptable.

"I've spoken to Abdallah and he's devastated at the way things are progressing.

"No-one wants to see this, it's a nightmare.

"I feel for the supporters, I feel for the club, the town, the employees, the players having to take tennis balls off the pitch. It's terrible. It's a dire situation that has got to change.

"What the supporters are doing at the moment is trying to kill the club.

"They're trying to kill the club by boycott.

"Why would people boycott home games and deprive the club (of revenue)?"

Morallee added: "I understand why the fans are frustrated, the team's started the season badly and so that's perfectly understandable. But the way in which that protest is being shown is just wrong. It's just wrong.

"Abdallah is in Dubai, he's invested heavily into the club - £5million I think.

"I'm not here to defend the club's current playing record, the playing record is not good enough, but you have to look back at what Abdallah has had to deal with.

"He's invested millions into the club, he uncovered millions and millions of pounds worth of debts that were not available for inspection on due diligence and he's funded this club through really hard times.

"He's trying to put it into a much better financial footing now, but it takes time.

"There's a five-year plan. There's an actual plan in place."