The head of Britain's leading anti-racist movement in sport thinks West Ham's new Icelandic owners should make a public stand against the kind of abuse suffered by captain Nigel Reo-Coker.

Reo-Coker's agent Tony Finnegan, the former Crystal Palace player, has reported how his client was targeted by bigots who blamed him for former manager Alan Pardew's recent sacking.

Finnegan revealed that Reo-Coker had received mail in which one letter racially abused him and another said "I hope you die over what happened to Pardew".

He added that former Wimbledon star, 22, had been booed and jeered by West Ham fans during matches this season.

Now, Piara Powar, Director of the "Kick it Out" campaign, has called for action to be taken.

He insisted: "I don't know whether there is any police intervention pending in this matter but I think it is time West Ham's new owners came out and said publicly that this kind of thing will not be tolerated."

Powar clearly expects new Hammers chairman Eggert Magnusson - who fronted the recent £85 million takeover of West Ham before sacking Pardew last week - to send out a clear message.

He said: "I imagine West Ham, like many clubs, have a notice in their match programme pointing out their abhorrence of racist behaviour, but I also think a clear statement from the new owners would let everybody know where they stand.

"All of us at the Kick it Out campaign are really disappointed to hear about this. It must be shocking to some people that a footballer, especially a club captain, is treated this way.

"He is not West Ham's captain for nothing - especially at just 22. The manager who appointed him must have been sure he had the ability and commitment to the club to do the job.

"And for people to blame him on the grounds of his race just because things have gone wrong is terrible.

"Of course, we all know there are some people around who have a screw loose or take the game far too seriously."

Reo-Coker scored West Ham's winner in their shock triumph over Barclays Premiership leaders Manchester United on Sunday to give new manager Alan Curbishley a great start to his job.

The player dedicated the goal to former boss Pardew but, noticeably, did not celebrate it in front of fans.

At the start of the season the talented midfielder was linked with both Manchester United and Arsenal but neither move came to fruition during the August transfer window and Reo-Coker has since pledged his future to West Ham.

But now Finnegan says he wants clear-the-air talks with Curbishley about Reo-Coker's situation, saying: "I don't know how long he wants to play in front of boos."