Jeff Stelling claimed it was an ‘unlikely event’ as he shared an image of him watching Hartlepool United this week – after claims the club’s owner had written to rivals asking for him to be banned from matches.
Stelling resigned as honorary president of Hartlepool in May in protest at Raj Singh’s handling of negotiations to sell the club after it became clear that a local consortium’s proposed takeover was not progressing.
Reports earlier this month stated that Singh had written to National League clubs asking that Stelling be denied access to boardrooms should he attend Hartlepool fixtures at their ground this season.
This led to Stelling suggesting he would disguise himself as a Blues Brother from the Hollywood hit movie to watch Hartlepool play.
The cult musical action comedy film made in 1980 saw its two stars, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, wear matching dark suits, black pencil ties, black trilby hats and sunglasses.
The former Sky Sports turned talkSPORT presenter, however, shared a photo of him in the stands from Hartlepool’s away match against Southend on Monday.
Jeff Stelling shared a photo from the stands from Hartepool’s 1-1 draw away against Southend
Stelling has clashed with owner Raj Singh over negotiations to sell the club, leading to a letter being sent to National League rivals telling them not to allow the broadcaster into boardrooms
Hartlepool confirmed Stelling is able to attend away matches, but requested clubs not to offer him ‘dignitary places or seating, so as to avoid any unnecessary confusion or embarrassment’
A beaming Stelling wrote ‘Another unlikely event’ to accompany his selfie at Roots Hall, after sharing a view of the pitch with the message ‘What an afternoon in Southend.’
Stelling had earlier confirmed to a fan that he had bought a ticket for the match, which saw the Stags battle back to claim a 1-1 draw. The presenter had also watched Hartlepool 0-0 draw away at Yeovil earlier this month.
A Hartlepool statement earlier this month had hit back at claims they had asked clubs to ban Stelling from attending away matches.
‘For absolute clarity, neither the Club nor Chairman have asked for other clubs in the National League to exclude or ban Mr. Stelling from matches at their grounds,’ the statement read. ‘Mr. Stelling resigned whilst making unfounded accusations about the treatment of an unnamed party that he claimed had interest in takeover of the Club.
‘At that time Mr. Stelling declined to say what that treatment was or how he came to know of it. One explanation is that he was wrongly given information by a source or a prospective buyer.
‘At no time did Mr. Stelling ask the Club or Chairman for a factual position on those takeover matters. Further Mr. Stelling could not have been privy to any of the factual negotiations for takeover as all parties involved signed Non-Disclosure Agreements. Mr. Stelling was not party to those agreements or the negotiations.
‘The letter that the Club recently sent to National League opposition simply informed opposition that Mr Stelling no longer held a formal role and considerately asked opposition not to allocate Mr. Stelling dignitary places or seating, so as to avoid any unnecessary confusion or embarrassment on matchdays for the benefit of all parties including Mr. Stelling.
‘Mr. Stelling is of course able to attend away matches in any other capacity, as he stated was his intention when he resigned. At no point has the Club or Chairman requested or suggested that be otherwise.’
The Sky Sports legend has been pictured at away matches in the opening weeks of the season, after previously joking he would have to sneak into games
Stelling’s son Robbie, who works as a reporter for the Hartlepool Mail, has been barred from attending home matches amid an ongoing dispute
Earlier this month, the National League club announced its legal representatives had contacted BBC Tees and the Hartlepool Mail citing ‘factually incorrect and defamatory’ content published in May and June.
The statement added that Singh had ‘confirmed that he remains committed to supporting the Club until a suitable takeover party can demonstrate that necessary funds are in place.’
An update was issued on August 16, with Hartlepool confirming that the both outlets would be granted access to their stadium matchdays to ‘provide their listeners and reader with up to date news from the game.’
‘Ongoing legal correspondence remains in place and until a resolution has been made, specific employees from each outlet will not be granted access.’
Stelling’s son Robbie, who works as a reporter for the Hartlepool Mail, was among those banned by the club from home matches.
BBC Tees issued a statement last week announcing their commentator had been refused entry to cover their home match against Woking.
‘We can’t bring you live commentary of Hartlepool United’s home game today,’ the statement read.
‘Hartlepool United have refused our commentator access to the ground, after an interview we broadcast earlier this summer about the sale of the club and their finances.
‘We stand by that journalism, and we know it’s the fans who lose out most. We are really sorry for that. We’ll keep working to resolve this and will do our best to keep you across today’s game.’
