Following the Lancashire Telegraph’s coverage of the withdrawal of media access, Blackburn Rovers wishes to provide further clarity on the matter.

The decision was not about criticism of the club. We fully recognise and respect the right of the media to hold us to account and constructive scrutiny is part of the relationship between any football club and the press.

The critical issue, however, centred on repeated and unresolved concerns with the conduct and reporting of Elliott Jackson, the Lancashire Telegraph’s designated Rovers reporter.

Despite extensive discussions, including a face-to-face meeting with senior executives during pre-season in Spain, these issues persisted. They include the publication of inaccurate claims, misleading social media posts, leaking of sensitive information around team selection, direct approaches to players without clearance from the club and the deliberate ‘banking’ of stories during the transfer window in a way that created disruption for the club during a critical period.

In response, the club made a clear and reasonable request to the Lancashire Telegraph, that until matters could be resolved, an alternative reporter be assigned to cover media duties. This would have allowed the newspaper to maintain access and continue to serve supporters without interruption, while giving space to address ongoing concerns.

To further resolve the matter, the club has requested on several occasions in recent weeks that senior executives from the Lancashire Telegraph meet with us directly. Those requests have so far been unfulfilled, with the newspaper instead insisting on continuing to assign the same reporter.

It is these actions – not the criticism or reporting itself – that led to the withdrawal of media access.

The club reiterates that this decision has not been taken lightly. Our objective has always been to maintain a professional, respectful and constructive working relationship with all media partners. Until that can be achieved, the current restrictions remain in place across all Blackburn Rovers fixtures, press conferences and premises.

Blackburn Rovers will always act to protect the values of professionalism, integrity and respect that underpin the club and the community it serves.

STATEMENT FROM LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH:

Blackburn Rovers Football Club has banned the Lancashire Telegraph from its property due to alleged unfair reporting.

The ban has come after the club expressed unhappiness at Rovers correspondent Elliott Jackson’s coverage, including around transfers, which the Lancashire Telegraph argues is simply Elliott doing his job as a professional, diligent journalist.

Elliott and the rest of the Lancashire Telegraph’s staff have now been banned from setting foot on Rovers’ property, and the club has also tried to coerce other EFL Championship clubs into blocking Elliott’s access at away matches, including this weekend’s game at Charlton Athletic.

The club says it has tried to foster a positive relationship and takes issue with stories critical of the club; the Lancashire Telegraph argues it is not a mouthpiece for the club, and it must accept the rough with the smooth, just as all major organisations the newspaper covers do.

The issue, the club says, stems from a post by Elliott on X.com that it claims was false and that contained quotes that were wrongly attributed, and also Elliott’s coverage of the departure of the club captain Lewis Travis.

It has also taken issue with so-called negative reporting about the club.

First team coach Valerien Ismael said in a press conference that Travis wanted to leave, and Elliott argues he did his job, working his contacts to pursue the story and get the full picture for the fans.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s position is that this is simply diligent, tenacious reporting, which is commonplace in all forms of journalism, particularly so during the football transfer window that the club is fully aware of.

If the team is playing badly or not appearing to be active in the transfer window, Elliott is well within his rights to be critical, we say.

A spokesperson for the Lancashire Telegraph said: “To be surprised or upset by this strikes us as either incredibly naïve or engineered as an excuse to try to stifle negative coverage.

“While we appreciate the opportunities made available to the newspaper, including access to players and transport during pre-season, this should not be used to try to stop us from reporting the facts when the club deserves criticism.”

They added: “We’re disappointed in the action taken by Blackburn Rovers and remain committed to finding an amicable solution and a way forward.

“Ultimately, the club and the Lancashire Telegraph are here to serve the fans.

“Readers can rest assured we will continue to provide exemplary coverage of the club, telling the stories that matter about the club they love.”

Elliott has defended his X post, which has since been deleted, as accurate, and the Lancashire Telegraph has seen messages which corroborate this.

The English Football League has said access to stadia sits with the home club, and while visiting clubs can make requests, the home team is under no obligation to meet these requests.

It said the EFL’s preference is for all access to be granted to provide supporters with the best coverage of their clubs possible.

It is unclear if the ban applies to Lancashire Telegraph staff wishing to attend Blackburn Rovers matches in a personal capacity.

Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition said in a statement: “The coalition of Blackburn Rovers supporters, including We Are The Rovers, Proud Rovers, BRIDSC, Ewood Park Working Men’s Club, TheRovers, BRFCS, and BRFC Action Group are aghast at recent developments emanating from the club.

“It’s our belief that criticism should be welcomed by any institution looking to improve itself. The action taken by the club gives the impression to any reasonable observer that the club is being run by a thin-skinned, underqualified and out-of-touch operation, further impressed by questionable interactions on social networking sites between employees of the club and fans. For the avoidance of doubt – banning the Lancashire Telegraph from Ewood Park is an embarrassing action for a football club such as ours to take.

“While the fanbase is reeling from the persistent and seemingly wilful underinvestment in the club’s infrastructure by our absentee owners undermining an excellent performance from the team and coaching staff against Ipswich – we are infuriated to report our understanding of the ground’s drainage situation; we have heard reports that a solution for this was sourced some time ago, with the solution rejected by senior figures at the club and the suggestion being made by the very same figures that the local authority should be responsible for solving the issue.

“In the interest of brevity and to urgently show solidarity with Elliott Jackson and the Lancashire Telegraph, this statement addresses the two most recent developments at the club. We will follow this statement with our wider concerns, which continue to grow.

“If our silence fostered any sense of complacency in the forces at Ewood seemingly not interested in the long-term progress of the football club, they would do well to note this statement and those that follow.”

Henry Winter tweeted: “Dear @Rovers. Banning the local paper is never a good look. I don’t know what’s led to this but I do know it makes you look small-minded, scared of constructive criticism, and disinterested in your fanbase – the lifeblood of the club. Fans rely heavily on the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for news, match coverage and a (good) podcast.

“Banning the local paper is embarrassing for your staff who live locally and who have to try to explain your decision to family, friends and neighbours. Banning the local paper is unlikely to go down well with sponsors.

“Banning the local paper also loses you all the support you deservedly acquired this week across the country because of the EFL’s unfair decision to order a full replay of your abandoned Ipswich game. I followed the LET coverage and they fought hard for Rovers over this injustice. So please think again. Work with the local paper. And good luck against Ipswich. #Rovers.”

As mentioned, Blackburn Rovers cause huge uproar after BANNING Lancashire Telegraph over a reporter’s recent coverage…

@puncturedbicycl: Can you not do anything right? Is this how you deal with constructive criticism? Jeez. It’s not the Lancashire Telegraph’s job to be your mouthpiece and propaganda merchant. You had one of those once. It was called the matchday programme but you chose to get rid of it. Remember?

@damobrfc1875: Wow! Barring access to the local paper is a shocking precedent to set. The LT isn’t meant to be a mouthpiece for the club. More so a balanced view representative of its readership (ie the fans). Some would argue the LT hasn’t criticised the club enough over the last 15 years!

@Danharg04: When will this circus stop!? Again another example from the guys at the top, that they honestly haven’t got a clue! Did they think that the fans would back this? Transparency is something that really irks the Rudy’s and the Pashas isn’t it! Shit show from top to bottom #Rovers

@johnrobinson07: Total bonkers decision and no fan should support this. So much for open and transparent commutation from the club and the board đŸ€Ł. Chin up @_ElliottJackson you have been an excellent local reporter for us Rovers fans.

@ewood1968: Not sure why we release things like this night before a game where after the issue last week everyone seemed to galvanise together. Whether decision is right or wrong it’s an own goal statement that people will dive on, particularly given LT is largely the only point of communication. Fix it!

@ChrisWyreBRFC: Disgraceful from the club, the @lancstelegraph has to remain neutral in thier reporting & the club must respect that wether good, bad or ugly. What next banning supporters because of a post/comment they don’t like? Another dark day for @rovers

@MikeyDelap: I know you’re the social media officer, but if you can feedback with the rest of the stuff you’re getting I’d be grateful. This is a REALLY bad look. The paper aren’t employed to be a mouthpiece for the club, they should be allowed to challenge fairly. Reverse this decision.

@baheed75: Dunno who the bad penny in the club is but they are doing one hell of a job knackering the place , banning Elliott is a bad look but trying to ban him from other grounds is a very poor look

@WonAndOnlyDeuce: Not a single Rovers supporter believes this is a good idea. Not one. For your own best interest it would be wise to withdraw this decision & allow @_ElliottJackson back, or else you’ll continue to suffer a massive backlash from the club’s supporters and potentially employees.

@SMMiller14: This is a really bad look. I’m not sure what the ‘personal’ tweet was but access to local media is paramount. Withdrawing interviews when the club gets very limited non-official coverage otherwise is deeply disappointing for those who value transparency and meaningful scrutiny

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