Broadcaster Jeff Stelling has pledged to join Hartlepool United supporters on the terraces, intensifying an ongoing dispute with the National League club’s owner, Raj Singh.
The former Sky Sports and current TalkSPORT presenter jokingly suggested he might need to don a “Blues Brother” costume to back the club, following reports that Singh had written to rival teams, urging them to deny Stelling access to their boardrooms this season.
The 70-year-old stepped down as Hartlepool’s honorary president in May.
His resignation was a direct protest against the owner’s handling of negotiations to sell the club to a local consortium, talks for which had reportedly stalled.
While Stelling anticipates he will not be welcomed at the Prestige Group Stadium, he remains resolute in his commitment to supporting his beloved team at away fixtures.
Asked about the situation on TalkSPORT on Wednesday morning, Stelling said: “You know what? It didn’t bother me, I’m not president of the football club anymore.
“It’s my football club, I’m a lifelong supporter of that football club and if it came down to the fact that I travelled and stood with the Poolies, the Hartlepool supporters, wherever they are (…) I’d already bought my ticket – we’re away to Yeovil on Saturday – I’d already bought my ticket to be with the fans, so I didn’t get the issue or why Mr Singh wanted to raise it.
“But of course, then it was leaked to the media and then of course it all spiralled and spiralled out of control.
“The other thing that I took offence to was in the statement he says in the unlikely event that I attend games independently.
“Well, I mean, last season I went to Aldershot, Eastleigh, Solihull, Southend, Sutton, Wealdstone, Woking, Dagenham and Redbridge, Ebbsfleet, Maidenhead and a few others as well, so, it’s not so unlikely that I’ll attend.”
In his letter – which was sent last month – Singh wrote: “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 not provided with official HUFC dignitary spaces in your boardroom 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.”
In response to Singh’s move, the town’s MP Jonathan Brash has in turn written to National League clubs urging them to treat the popular broadcaster with the “respect and courtesy that he has most certainly earned”.
Stelling, who confirmed he had introduced the agent of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to the club after they had expressed an interest in buying it before they opted to invest in Wrexham, has insisted he would be happy to discuss the situation with Singh.
He said: “I haven’t spoken to Mr Singh for months – it might even be a year – so this was just completely out of the blue. I just don’t regard it as any big deal.
“I don’t think I’d be welcome at home games – I’d probably have to go in disguise – but certainly at away games, I’m very happy to go with the fans, no problem whatsoever. I’d rather go with the fans, let’s put it that way.
“I’ll be a Yeovil on Saturday and I’ll tell you what, I’ll say it right now – if Mr Singh is there, I’ll be happy to meet him and have a chat with him.”
