Lynn boss Gary Setchell insisted tonight's Deeping demolition in the UCL Premier Division had drawn a line under recent off-the-field incidents which led to former manager Kevin Boon's resignation and defender Paul Cousins' exit.

The Linnets served up one of their best displays since re-launching at the start of last season to hammer Rangers following a torrid period for the club since Saturday's FA Cup win over Quorn.

Boon resigned in the aftermath after a personal family issue involving Cousins and son-in-law Robbie Harris. Former Wisbech defender Cousins was then released this afternoon to cap a turbulent 24 hours.

Harris was in attendance tonight to watch his team mates and Setchell insists Town will fully support the striker while he takes time out of the game.

'Robbie was here and he has shown a lot of character,' said Setchell. 'He was in the dressing room and was part of it. As a person you have to give him as much time as he wants. Despite what some might say, Robbie has been supported 100% by the club.

'It was a horrendous situation with the people involved because it made it a lot more awkward. I have never known it before in football. The club handled it in a professional manner. There were no knee jerk reactions but we were all behind Robbie Harris – the lad had done nothing wrong.'

Setchell was delighted Lynn did their talking on the pitch with Danny Beaumont's hat-trick and goals from front duo Jack Defty and Nelson Moreira on target – Mark Jones grabbing a scant consolation for the hosts.

'I think the club as a whole has been through a lot in the last four days,' he said. 'The chairman, Jonathan (Chapman) and myself and there were a lot of people jumping to all sorts of conclusions. We have done the best for King's Lynn football club and with the performance tonight people will go home talking about the display and not the controversy, which is what we all wanted. 'The incident has been dealt with. Robbie Harris will be back when he is ready and the other lad is by the wayside. We could have come here and used all that as an excuse. It would have been easy, but the lads showed what a good honest professional bunch they are. They want to play for King's Lynn.'

Defty powered Lynn in front on 12 minutes with a superb header from Moreira's pinpoint cross. Josh Norman should have drawn Deeping level when he dipped inside Pat Bexfield but the left winger chipped over with Alex Street committed.

Beaumont rifled Lynn further ahead on 24 minutes with a howitzer from long range before Defty's snap header was cleared off the line. Moreira superbly chipped James Doughty from Defty's sublime pass and Beaumont slotted a close range fourth for the rampant Linnets all inside the opening period.

Doughty's point blank stop denied Beaumont a hat-trick just seconds after the interval. Street tipped over Mark Jones' curler on 64 minutes, but Jones made no mistake when he swept home from 12 yards. Beaumont deservedly grabbed his third to complete the rout on 74 minutes with a pinpoint curler past Doughty.

• Deeping: Doughty, M Evans, Jackson (Fenton 78), K Jones, Julian (Tinkler 52), Gilbert, M Jones, Burton-Jones, Battersby (Birtles 55), Heron, Moreman. Subs (not used): Cox, Oliver.

• Bookings: Battersby, Evans

• Goal: M Jones (68)

• King's Lynn: Street, Bexfield, Yong, Watson, Wall (Buhlemann 78), White, Spriggs (Fryatt 52), L Thurlburne, Defty, Moreira (Coe 73), Beaumont. Sub (not used): Hails.

• Bookings: Moreira, White.

• Goals: Defty (12), Beaumont (24, 44, 74), Moreira (43)

• Referee: J Amess

• Attendance: 320