Police are investigating after a racially offensive and threatening message was sent to a former Gillingham player.

Ex-striker Mark McCammon was sent the Facebook message two weeks ago.

He reported it at Teddington police station in London and officers told him Kent Police would be contacted because the author is from the county.

The message used extreme racist language and McCammon was told he would have his "throat cut" if he returned to Gillingham.

The 34-year-old, who took the club to an employment tribunal last year alleging racial victimisation, claims he was told by police this week they have not been able to track the person down.

So yesterday he posted a picture of the message on his Twitter account in the hope that someone on the site might know them.

McCammon received many messages of support from Gillingham fans on the site, who condemned the abuse.

He said: "I just don't understand it. There are some uneducated people out there with no life, I just want to get on with mine.

"It just came out of the blue, I don’t know what provoked him to do that."

In a message to the player on Twitter, the Kent Police Football account wrote: "We were made aware of an offensive message sent via social media and overnight, have been progressing the investigation."

A Metropolitan police spokesman said: "On June 7 police received an allegation of malicious communication relating to a message posted on Facebook. Enquiries continue and there have been no arrests."

"There are some uneducated people out there with no life, I just want to get on with mine..." - Mark McCammon

McCammon said he had received hate mail in the past, but nothing "to that extreme".

The former Barbados international joined Gillingham in 2008, and left in 2011. He scored five goals in 62 appearances.

McCammon won almost £70,000 in an employment tribunal against the Gills, after it was found he had been dismissed for gross misconduct as an act of racial victimisation.

He claimed the club docked his wages, refused him treatment for an injury and fined him for not turning up in the snow.

McCammon, who was awarded £68,728, alleged he and other black players were treated differently from white players in the first race case of its kind.

The club have always denied the allegations and have appealed against the decision. The appeal will be heard in September.