THE management committee of the Northern Counties East League is expected to discuss a complaint about Selby Town manager Bob Lyon tomorrow night after being reported by Pickering Town officials.

Pikes chairman Tony Dunning has written to the league after Lyon made several inflammatory comments in his programme notes ahead of the NCE premier division match on Saturday.

Notes in the programme included: "We welcome the team that owes me over £1,000 and 80 hours of my life.

"A lot of rivalry (exists) between myself and Pickering and, although things should be put behind us, certain things still rile me and this is one of them.

"Everytime I go there, I put about 50 on the gate and never even a 'thank you' from the committee or a free pint."

Lyon was convicted of assaulting Pickering secretary Alan Brenkley after head butting him during a match at Mill Lane in October 2001. He was ordered to pay £150 compensation, £800 costs and was sentenced to do 80 hours community service.

Lyon also referred to the open side of the ground where the altercation took place in his notes, saying: "In hindsight, if they had a fence at that side of the ground, the infamous incident would never have happened, that's maybe why they have not got it done, leaving it as a memorial for Mr Brenkley..."

Dunning said: "It is very poor that he has brought the incident up after two years, and after he's been found guilty. I cannot understand why, especially in front of a game, when it is liable to cause trouble."

After learning about the complaint, Lyon said: "They have never had a sense of humour have they? That is nothing at all to do with Selby Town Football Club and is a direct thing at me. Everything I wrote in there was true."

Pickering beat Thackley 3-0 last night. The visitors had Dave Nelson sent off early on for fouling Danny Brunton then swearing at the crowd.

Gavin Dickinson opened the scoring after 23 minutes, Ricky Greening added a second after 58 minutes as Pickering dominated, Mark Wood twice hitting the woodwork before Mark Swales completed the scoring.

Updated: 10:35 Wednesday, March 17, 2004