A football club that banned the local paper's football writer from its ground has broken its silence on the decision.

Jon Murray has been barred from Oxford United by the club chairman Firoz Kassam.

He was informed by letter from the chairman that he had been banned from the stadium, and from talking to any staff or players.

The Oxford Mail protested, but a statement on the official club website now explains that the decision was made after "the club was portrayed in a negative light in some areas of the local media", and that "a number of stories have been distorted, exaggerated or simply printed without the facts being checked".

Mail deputy editor, Andy Chatfield, sent a letter by recorded delivery to Kassam asking for an explanation for his decision, but has yet to receive an official reply.

He said: "Our position has not changed. We refute Mr Kassam's claims and will continue to back Jon Murray until he is allowed unfettered access to the club and its players."

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