A football writer has been accused of “mischievous reporting” and banned from the press box of his local club.

The Northern Echo’s Darlington Football Club reporter Craig Stoddart is now covering matches from the stands at Feethams.

He is taking a risk by doing so – because the chairman George Reynolds has threatened to throw him out if he is caught.

Reynolds issued an official statement before the last home match of the season against Plymouth to say all press privileges had been withdrawn from the reporter with immediate effect.

The statement accused him of “inflammatory and mischievous reporting”.

Reynolds took exception to his coverage of the growing disillusionment among fans and players following a bitterly disappointing season.

And he declared that although the reporter was banned, other representatives from the paper were welcome to attend.

But Craig (left) – a Darlington supporter since the conference season of 1989/90 – covered the game sitting in the stands, where he has had a season ticket for the past ten years.

Despite getting into the ground free of charge as a football reporter, Craig still bought the season ticket because, as a lifelong fan, he did not want to be seen as a “freeloader”.

Editor Peter Barron decided not to send another reporter and told Craig to cover the game from the terraces despite threats that he would be removed.

But Reynolds did not attend the match and Craig was not asked to move from his seat.

The editor said: “Craig has done nothing wrong and I am not prepared to replace him with someone else just because the chairman of the club doesn’t like what he writes.”

Craig’s match report was accompanied by comments from the editor.

He said: “”In banning Craig Stoddart from the press box at Feethams, George Reynolds is guilty of shooting the messenger.

“As well as doing his job as The Northern Echo’s Darlington reporter, Stoddart is also a fan who cares passionately about the club.

“The truth is that players have made statements to Stoddart, only to be fined for speaking out of turn. Club officials have spoken privately about their concern for the future of the club. And fans have made their feelings plain.

“It is not the job of a local newspaper to act as a public relations vehicle for a football club: to put a gloss on what is happening on and off the pitch, and to conceal criticism. It is our job to reflect what is really happening and the truth is plain for all to see – Darlington are a club inturmoil.”

Read Peter Barron’s full statement here.

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