Hartlepool United chairman Raj Singh has written to all National League clubs requesting that broadcaster Jeff Stelling be denied access to boardrooms during away matches, escalating a dispute that began when Stelling resigned as the club's honorary president in May.
Stelling stepped down in protest over Singh's handling of a proposed takeover by a consortium led by local businesswoman Shirley Hammond. The former Sky Sports presenter said he felt compelled to resign to protest against the treatment of the party trying to take control of the club, warning that supporters had been left in an 'intolerable position'.
In his letter to fellow clubs, Singh asked that Stelling not be provided with official Hartlepool United dignitary spaces, and requested that if Stelling attends matches independently, he be seated separately from club officials. The request applies from Hartlepool's first away fixture of the season at Yeovil on Saturday.
Stelling, a lifelong Hartlepool fan, served as honorary president from 2016, using his platform on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday to promote the club. Singh saved Hartlepool from liquidation in 2021 but put the club up for sale after relegation from the Football League in 2023. A vote among season-ticket holders on Singh's future has been proposed but not yet held.
A Hartlepool United spokesperson confirmed that since Stelling holds no official position, the club has informed other teams that he is not attending on behalf of Hartlepool United. Singh declined to comment on the matter.
