A two-month dispute which saw two north-east daily newspapers banned from a football club has ended.

Reporters and photographers from the Hartlepool Mail and Darlington-based Northern Echo were excluded indefinitely from all press areas at Hartlepool United FC in August.

The problems began just after the start of the new season when the Mail refused to sign a commercial deal between itself and the club – the details of which remain a secret – earning it a ban.

The Northern Echo then supplied the Mail with manager's quotes and photographs which in turned saw it also excluded from press areas at the ground.

Sports writers covered home games from among the fans in the stands with The Northern Echo even carrying a cartoon picture story of one game in the absence of photographs (below).

Hartlepool United has now decided to allow both papers full press access again which started with Tuesday's 5-3 victory over Huddersfield.

A statement on the Hartlepool United website said: "The club is pleased to announce that the recent dispute with the Hartlepool Mail has been resolved and that their photographers are now welcome into the ground and their reporters will be back in the press box.

"While the actual details of the commercial dispute are confidential, HUFC advise that they had to protect the club's commercial interests which were in danger of being eroded.

"As HUFC have stated many times, the club can only progress on a firm economic footing and in these difficult economic times the need to ensure that the club receives income from its assets is even more important."

Northern Echo editor Peter Barron said on his blog: "Hartlepool United have sent a fax confirming that The Northern Echo is welcome again at Victoria Park.

"Along with the Mail, we'll be allowed back in for the match against Huddersfield Town and, hopefully, we can all put this sad saga behind us."

Hartlepool Mail editor Joy Yates declined to comment on the story.

The paper carried the following on its back page: "The Hartlepool Mail and HUFC have reached a satisfactory agreement to ensure full coverage of HUFC games by the Mail at all home games."

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