The lobby group representing editors across the press and media industry is hoping to end a four-month dispute between one of the country’s most famous football clubs and press agencies.

The Society of Editors is attempting to meet with management from Leeds United after the club imposed a ban on agency photographers, including Press Association, from attending matches at its stadium Elland Road.

Two agencies – Action Images and Varleys Picture Agency which is based at the club – are still working there while agencies with specific commissions from newspapers have been granted access.

Press Association Sport, which supplies images to local and national newspapers which subscribe to its wire service, has been in continued negotiations with the club to get the ban lifted.

But last month PA took the decision to scale back its coverage of Leeds United’s away games, supplying mainly pictures of the home teams to the local and national press.

These latest developments come the day after Leeds United secured a FA Cup third round tie at Manchester United after beating Kettering Town in a replay last night.

Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said today: “We have offered to facilitate talks between the club and media organisations so that football can be reported, without conditions, by properly accredited media representatives as it always has been, for everyone’s benefit.

“We hope to meet club officials shortly because good co-operative relationships between the media, football and sport generally are important.

“Clubs and other sports organisations, football supporters, sports fans and the public generally benefit from those relationships.”

PA said in a statement today: “Press Association Sport has attempted to have constructive dialogue with Leeds United but we have been unable to resolve the situation and get the ban lifted.

“As a result, in mid-November we took the decision to scale back Press Association Sport’s coverage of the club and supply pictures predominantly of the home team only from Leeds United away games.

“This isn’t a decision that we have taken lightly but believe that the Leeds United ban is attempting to control the pictures that appear in the media and restrict fair media access.

“We are grateful for support from our newspaper customers and the Society of Editors in this matter.”

The Yorkshire Evening Post told HTFP that its access to home and away matches, along with other local newspaper titles, had not been affected by this ban.

Leeds United declined to comment on this story.