A relegation-threatened football team are facing allegations they deliberately caused a match to be postponed by soaking their pitch with sprinklers during heavy rainfall.
King's Lynn Town's match against South Shields in the National League North was due to take place on February 14 at 3pm but was postponed 24 hours before.
Fans were told that a pitch inspection found the grass was waterlogged with too much sitting water 'due to a high amount of rainfall and insufficient drainage'.
But leaked CCTV images with timestamps now claim to show the pitch at Docherty Walks Stadium was being deliberately watered while it was already raining.
The photos, which were emailed to a number of media outlets by an untraceable email account, show the sprinkler system spraying water onto the grass in Norfolk.
King's Lynn are 19th in the table, two places and four points above the relegation zone, and were said to have been impacted by injuries and illness that week.
South Shields, whose fans had faced a round-trip of more than 400 miles for the match, are believed to have referred the allegations to the National League.
The National League in turn has now launched an investigation, asking King's Lynn to provide the full CCTV and a response to the claims of a deliberate postponement.
A photo appears to show the sprinkler system spraying water onto the grass during heavy rainfall on February 13, the day before King's Lynn Town's match against South Shields
One insider told The Sun: 'King's Lynn had an injured defender wearing a protective boot and a flu bug running around the club.
'They faced the prospect of fielding a weakened team but will now be at full strength when the game is rescheduled to a later date.
'CCTV suggests the club must have known the sprinklers were turned on as a groundsman can be seen in the footage. If deemed deliberate, this would be seen as a huge breach of sporting integrity and treated similarly to fixing a match.'
CCTV stills appear to show the grass being watered by the sprinkler system near the corner flag during rainfall between 9.55am and 10.38am on February 13.
The official pitch inspection was carried out about two hours later, and an announcement that the match had been called off was made at 2.45pm.
Local sports journalist Greg Plummer, who has followed King's Lynn home and away for years, wrote in Lynn News: 'While the photographs sparked swift speculation online, the logic of the alleged plot was questioned by fellow journalists and I almost immediately.
'With three days of almost uninterrupted rain preceding the fixture, supporters and neutral observers alike noted that a brief burst from a single sprinkler would have made a negligible difference to the drenched surface.
'Some fans have even pointed out that they had never seen a sprinkler placed in that particular corner of the pitch.'
The photos were emailed to a number of media outlets by an untraceable email account
However he added that the 'more troubling element' was how the images were supposedly obtained, given the anonymous email said they came from the stadium's CCTV system - access to which requires secure credentials.
Mr Plummer said: 'That detail has led to speculation over whether the leak came from inside the club, from a hacked system, or from someone with a grudge against the club.
'The club, who are remaining tight-lipped about the whole situation, are believed to have spoken directly with National League officials, providing an explanation that the sprinkler activation could have been due to a technical malfunction.
'It is highly unlikely that a club in a relegation battle has intentionally sabotaged its own pitch, especially after so much rain in the build-up to the game.'
Chris Lakey, head of sport at the Eastern Daily Press, also wrote: 'Is it an insider? First supplementary question is why? Why put your job at risk?
'The pitch was apparently sodden anyway and a sprinkler wouldn't have changed much – the game was always going to be off.
'Many social media posts have commented that they have never seen a sprinkler in the corner of the pitch. Also, the match now has to be played on a midweek date, losing the club revenue. Why do that?
'It is understood Lynn have spoken to the National League who are happy with the explanation that there was a malfunction and that no charges will be made.'
King's Lynn Town were due to play South Shields at Docherty Walks Stadium (file picture)
He added: 'Inside job or outside, they must have a real gripe against the club. Or a real belief that they are right in their claims and that justice must be done.'
South Shields chairman Geoff Thompson told the BBC: 'We are aware the matter is being investigated by the National League.
'We've also seen the evidence of the sprinkler system being on for a very considerable time in advance of the referee pitch inspection, which was conducted remotely via telephone with the match referee and hosted by the KLTFC groundsman.'
A National League spokesperson said: 'The National League are aware of the allegations and are conducting an investigation into it.'
King's Lynn, who are owned by Singapore-based Turn Sports Investments run by media entrepreneur Joseph Phua, have been contacted for comment.
In a statement announcing the postponement on February 13, the club had said: 'Unfortunately, due to a high amount of rainfall and insufficient drainage our pitch has too much sitting water and has become waterlogged.
'Due to this, our match against South Shields at home tomorrow has been postponed following an earlier pitch inspection and will be rearranged to a yet confirmed date.'
The match has since been rescheduled to March 17 at 7.45pm.
King's Lynn have played once since the postponement – losing 4-0 at Macclesfield on Saturday.
