A union chief has accused football clubs of “spitting their dummies out” over unfavourable regional press coverage.

As reported on Friday, Coventry City barred the Coventry Telegraph from a press conference on Friday after calling on the club’s owners Sisu to sell up earlier in the week after what the newspaper termed “nine miserable years of failure”.

Now the National Union of Journalists has called on City to rescind the decision.

A petition set up by the Telegraph on the issue received more than 15,500 signatures over the course of the weekend.

Last Tuesday’s front page appeal to Sisu

Chris Morley, NUJ Northern and Midlands organiser, said: “The NUJ condemns the banning of journalists from the Coventry Telegraph from having access to Coventry City FC’s management staff or players over the apparent critical coverage of the club’s owners, Sisu.

“It is far too common occurrence for football clubs – from Premier League giants to non-league minnows – to spit their dummies out over unfavourable coverage in local, regional or national media.

“They need to grow up and accept that in a democratic country there is the right to express criticism and that it is unacceptable to shoot the messenger when things are going wrong.

“I urge Sisu to put its petulance to one side and accept that Coventry Telegraph journalists are welcome to deal responsibly with the club and its fans.”

Among those to back the Telegraph’s campaign is 1987 FA Cup winner David Phillips, who says the club has hit “rock bottom” under Sisu.

Other high-profile names include Coventry-born football pundit Richard Keys, former manager and player Bobby Gould, and ex-footballers Micky Quinn, Stan Collymore and Stuart Pearce.

A statement issued on behalf of the NUJ’s Trinity Mirror group chapel reads: “The NUJ Trinity Mirror group chapel condemns Coventry City Football Club’s decision to prevent Coventry Telegraph journalists having access to staff and players.

“It calls on the club to rescind this decision immediately. Journalists carrying out their normal work should not be targeted in this way.”