We reported on the situation at Newcastle, including the granting of special media rights to The Sun, here.
Two weeks ago, the Mike Ashley-owned club decided to end lift the ban imposed in October 2013 - after the Evening Chronicle, The Journal and The Sunday Sun had the audacity to do their job, and report on a fans' protest over the sportswear entrepreneur's handling of the club.
Anecdotally, the local papers have been enjoying a circulation boost since then - so being readmitted to St James' Park might not be such a blessing after all. In time-honoured manner whenever a club has got the 'ump with a newspaper and tried to gag it with by barring it from the press box, the titles simply bought tickets to games and sent in reporters accordingly.
![Mike Ashley](/uploads/2/1/4/5/21458448/9914763.jpg?303)
That ban was imposed in September after Northeast football correspondent Luke Edwards reported that Ashley was willing to sell the club. Newcastle issued a statement to deny the story, describing it as "disgraceful journalism for which the club and its supporters should receive a full and unreserved apology". No such apology has been forthcoming.
The stand-off worsened when Edwards further reported that Ashley's ownership interest in Rangers could jeopardise the clubs' ability to qualify to play in Europe - UEFA competition rules look to prohibit owners with controlling interests in more than one club competing in the Champions League or UEFA League.
The club published a rebuttal, which is still live on its website, which Press Gazette had reported may be libellous.
They quoted lawyer Christopher Hutchings as saying: "While the club is within its rights to exclude journalists and papers that themselves print allegations about Newcastle, it may not be wise for it to make counter-accusations about the integrity of the journalists."
Now, journalists sueing a football club... That's something we'd pay to watch.