A paper which refused to abide by an embargo about a planned redevelopment of Southampton Football Club’s ground has been banned from covering the club – according to reports.
The club banned the Southern Daily Echo from even photographing players handing out presents to sick children, stated holdthefrontpage.
Despite the plans being publicly available on Southhampton City Council’s website and elsewhere, the club’s Swiss owners attempted to get editor, Ian Murray, to hold the story until they’d run their own press conference.
Ian Murray, writing on the paper’s website said: “This ban will not effect our coverage of the Saints.”
The ban comes after a spate of run-ins between football clubs and the media in recent months. Portsmouth FC lifted a five month ban on The News, its local title, in July after claims of misrepresentation in a story the paper ran.
Leeds United had also banned Press Association photographers from its ground in a row over rights.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
