Jeff Stelling feud turns ugly as football club chief calls for boardroom ban

Hartlepool United chairman Raj Singh has escalated his feud with former Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling. The broadcaster is a lifelong Hartlepool fan and was named honorary president in 2015.

However, he resigned from the role earlier this year in protest at Singh's handling of takeover talks. Singh put the club up for sale in April 2023 after they were relegated from the English Football League.

And Singh has now written to the other National League clubs asking them to ban Stelling from their boardrooms. The letter reads: "You may be aware from media coverage that Jeff Stelling has resigned as Honorary President of Hartlepool United Football Club.

"As Chairman of Hartlepool United Football Club I would kindly and considerately ask that Mr Stelling is therefore not provided with official HUFC dignitary spaces in your board room, or equivalent, for any Hartlepool United fixture at your home ground.

"In the unlikely event that Mr ­Stelling independently attends any Hartlepool United fixture at your home ground, I'd further request that you consider to seat Mr Stelling separately to any HUFC dignitaries or staff."

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Stelling, who now works for talkSPORT, responded to the news on social media, writing: "First I knew was when someone sent me a copy tbh so I guess so. I had already bought my ticket for Yeovil so more than happy to go with the fans. Seems a bit extreme though!!"

After receiving a supportive tweet from a fellow Hartlepool fan, Stelling added: "Thanks Jon. Appreciate it. Once a Poolie, always a Poolie and by the way I wish Simon Grayson and the boys all the best this season. Might have to disguise myself in my Blues Brothers outfit from a couple of years ago to get into the Vic but will be at many away games!"

Jonathan Brash, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, also wrote to the National League clubs in response to Singh's letter and urged them to treat Stelling with the "respect and courtesy that he has most certainly earned".

"Jeff Stelling is a Freeman of Hartlepool, one of our most favoured sons, and a football broadcaster and journalist of international renown," Brash wrote. "He has dedicated much of his life to supporting football at every level, and especially to championing our club and our town.

"While robust debate and difference of opinion are part and parcel of football, I would respectfully request that Mr Stelling is afforded the warm welcome and courtesy he rightly deserves whenever Hartlepool United visit your club."

Stelling responded to Brash's letter, writing: "Jonathan thanks so much for that. I am pretty sure most clubs will be as gracious with me as they always have been. If not I have got no problem being with the travelling Poolies!"

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