A manager who barred a regional daily was sacked partly because he failed to meet his media obligations, a football club’s chairman has revealed.

HTFP reported in March how the Plymouth Herald and its Plymouth Live sister website were informed by Plymouth Argyle FC that they would no longer be able to speak to Derek Adams at his pre-match press conferences and other interviews after it covered criticism of him by supporters and a former player.

Mr Adams subsequently lost his job last month prior to Argyle’s relegation from League One, English football’s third tier.

But now Simon Hallett, the club’s chairman, has confirmed in an exclusive interview with the Herald that the former manager’s approach to the media was taken into consideration when making the decision to dismiss him.

Mr Adams was relieved of his duties on 28 April, the day after Argyle lost 5-1 away at Accrington Stanley.

Following the defeat, he declined to talk to any journalists.

Discussing the decision to sack Mr Adams, Mr Hallett told the Herald: “Clearly, what flicked the switch was the Accrington game and we felt that we needed the fans behind us for the Scunthorpe game.

“We felt that the way our fans were treated up at Accrington wasn’t entirely appropriate, and we felt that Derek had obligations to the media that he didn’t fulfil.  So, we weren’t happy about the Accrington game in ways other than just the result.”

At the time Argyle implemented the ban, the club stressed the restriction applied to Mr Adams only and not to players or other club staff – while no other media were affected.

Plymouth Live editor Edd Moore told HTFP: “We passionately support Plymouth Argyle and have generally always had a very good relationship with the club.

“We’re looking forward to that relationship continuing to improve when a new full-time manager is appointed.”