By Eric King-
An NUJ journalist chief union has accused football clubs of “spitting their dummies out” over unfavorable regional press coverage.
Coventry City banned the Coventry Telegraph from a press conference on Friday because the newspaper had written an unfavorable article, in which the club was described as having “nine miserable years of failure”.
The Telegraph has set up a petition on the issue which has received more than 15,500 signatures over the course of the weekend. It is absolutely unprofessional for any organization to ban press members from press conferences on the basis of a bad press release<
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Chris Morley, NUJ Northern and Midlands organizer, said: “The NUJ condemns the banning of journalists from the Coventry Telegraph from having access to Coventry City FC’s management staff or players over the apparent critical coverage of the club’s owners, Sisu.
“It is far too common occurrence for football clubs – from Premier League giants to non-league minnows – to spit their dummies out over unfavorable coverage in local, regional or national media.
“They need to grow up and accept that in a democratic country there is the right to express criticism and that it is unacceptable to shoot the messenger when things are going wrong.
“I urge Sisu to put its petulance to one side and accept that Coventry Telegraph journalists are welcome to deal responsibly with the club and its fans.”
Backing the Telegraph’s campaign is 1987 FA Cup winner David Phillips, who says the club has hit “rock bottom” under Sisu and Coventry-born football pundit Richard Keys, former manager and player Bobby Gould, and ex-footballers Micky Quinn, Stan Collymore and Stuart Pearce.
Coventry football club is required to demonstrate adequate levels of professionalism when dealing with the media.
A statement issued on behalf of the NUJ’s Trinity Mirror group chapel reads: “The NUJ Trinity Mirror group chapel condemns Coventry City Football Club’s decision to prevent Coventry Telegraph journalists having access to staff and players.
“It calls on the club to rescind this decision immediately. Journalists carrying out their normal work should not be targeted in this way.” Very true, and a football club ought to know this without being told