CHIPPENHAM Town are fully supporting manager Nathan Rudge after he was found guilty of an FA misconduct charge relating to racially aggravated comments at an FA Cup clash last season.

Bluebirds boss Rudge received a four-match touchline ban, a fine and must attend an FA ethnicity course after the outcome of a personal hearing before the FA on Wednesday.

He was accused of racially abusing Bishops Cleeve striker Carl Brown in an FA Cup clash that Town won 2-1 last September - a charge he has always strenuously denied.

Rudge requested a personal hearing with the authorities, while also seeking legal advice.

At that hearing on Wednesday, the Chippenham chief was found guilty - and while admitting his disappointment with the ruling, Town chairman Neil Blackmore insisted the club were fully supporting their manager.

Blackmore, who was at the hearing, said: "I was only there as an observer and I did hear all the evidence.

"I must say that on a personal level, I felt the evidence was in favour of Nathan and that the evidence that was presented was not conclusive at all.

"However, the FA works on the balance of probability. It is not like a court of law and, unfortunately, Nathan was found guilty.

"Being a club affiliated to the FA we have to accept those findings.''

He added: "We're fully supporting Nathan and he has our backing.

"Personally, I don't believe he is guilty, but we have to accept the ban and fine and Nathan has to go on an ethnicity course.''

Rudge's four-match touchline ban will start at the beginning of the Calor Southern League Premier Division season next month.

Meanwhile, Blackmore has vowed to clean up the club's general conduct after attending a second hearing earlier in the weekend to review Town's disciplinary record last season.

The Bluebirds were put under the microscope by the FA, handed an undisclosed fine and given advice on how to improve matters ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

Blackmore revealed an improvement in discipline would be one of the club's top priorities next season and  a new code of conduct had been signed up to by all of the Bluebirds' squad.

Players have also been warned that those who consistently fail to tow the line will be moved on from Hardenhuish Park.

"The FA said that it wasn't their intention to punish the club and they gave us lots of good points which we have taken on board,'' added Blackmore.

"We've a new code of conduct which has been signed by all the players and agreed with the manager and his assistant (Steve Winter) and it will be one of our focusses in the new season.

"We've already had several discussions with the squad about discipline and the manager and assistant manager are fully aware of the club's position on this.

"The squad have been told that anybody who does not tow the line will be moved on.''

Town take on an Ipswich Town XI, including former defender Tyrone Mings, at Hardenhuish Park tomorrow (1pm).

NEWS FROM TOWN'S FRIENDLY AGAINST AN IPSWICH TOWN XI TOMORROW VIA TWITTER @gazsport AND AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT AND IN NEXT WEEK'S GAZETTE & HERALD