A football club has banned a Scottish daily newspaper in a move reminiscent of restrictions imposed on a group of English titles in 2013.

The Glasgow-based Daily Record has been informed it is no longer welcome at Rangers matches or press conferences.

The move comes after Record journalists delivered a series of exclusives and hard-hitting columns which have have called into question the way the club is being run.

Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner who currently holds an 8.9pc stake in Rangers, previously banned reporters from the Record’s Trinity Mirror sister titles the Newcastle Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun, from United matches.

The ban was introduced in response to the Chronicle’s coverage of a fans’ protest and remained in place for 14 months between October 2013 and December 2014.

Rangers chief executive Derek Llambias – a close associate of Mr Ashley who previously held the same role at Newcastle – emailed the Record on Monday informing journalists of the ban.

He wrote: “Following recent reporting by your journalists in the Daily Record, I am writing to inform you that with immediate effect the Daily Record newspaper will banned from attending all Rangers press conferences and games at Ibrox Stadium and Murray Park.”

The move has been condemned by Rangers supporters group Sons of Struth.

Spokesman Craig Houston said: “All Rangers supporters should be deeply disturbed that this latest development.

“The Daily Record, perhaps more than any other newspaper, has exposed what has been going on behind the scenes at our club – particularly over the last four years.”

He added: “As fans, we should thanks the Record for telling us all the things the board would rather have kept secret.”

“What worries me is that this is a mirror image of what goes on at Newcastle United, where papers are frequently banned from the club.

“That is why Rangers fans should be concerned.

“What we don’t want are selected journalists or selected newspapers operating in a climate where they are threatened with bans for writing something the club disagrees with.

“The thought of a ban is despicable in what is supposed to be a free country with freedom of speech.”

Daily Record editor Murray Foote said: “We’re disappointed by this ban but will continue our robust, fair and accurate reporting of Rangers.”