Oldham Athletic have overturned banning orders handed to three fans for 'promoting dislike' of the club after an intense backlash from around the country.
Latics, 23rd in League Two and in danger of relegation from the Football League, made national headlines this week when letters were sent to Bradley Knowles, Nathan Price and Dom Weiss from the club's general manager Steven Brown.
They were told they had been issued banning orders from home and away games of the first team and youth team for 'promoting dislike' of the club and encouraging others to do the same.
Unpopular owner Abdallah Lemsagam said on Wednesday that the fans deserved their bans for not behaving like proper fans, but that he would overturn them if the trio apologised to staff at Boundary Park for 'causing harm' to the club.
The fans denied any wrongdoing, and claimed their freedom of speech was being restricted. Fans have been protesting all season against Lemsagam's ownership, with pitch invasions, throwing of tennis balls onto the playing surface and a large protest featuring a coffin, grim reaper and clown attracting national attention.
In response, the club banned fans and banners from Boundary Park, and also restricted ticket sales for home fans for one game against Hartlepool.
This latest action against the three fans saw football fans from around the country unite against Lemsagam, with 4500 people signing a petition urging the bans to be overturned.
Now, the club have issued a short statement confirming the bans had been replaced with a final written warning.
It read: "After receiving representations from the three fans in question, an appeal committee of the club has decided to rescind the ban on the three fans and replace it with a final written warning.
"Should any of the behaviour be repeated again, a banning order will be issued."
The fans still deny any wrongdoing, and have clarified that no apology has been made, while the Oldham Athletic Supporters' Foundation - of which Mr Knowles is an elected director - have called for a full boycott of games to increase pressure on Lemsagam to sell the club.
Oldham face League Two's bottom side Scunthorpe on Boxing Day, with both sides level on 16 points in the two relegation places at the foot of the Football League, and three points from safety. They are under a transfer embargo and currently managerless following the sacking of Keith Curle.
