I'd rather sit with the fans, says Jeff Stelling amid row with Hartlepool owner
The 70-year-old stood down as honorary president in May in protest at the owner's handling of negotiations to sell Hartlepool to a local consortium after talks had stalled, and while he believes he will not be welcome at the Prestige Group Stadium, he will continue to support his team on the road.
Asked about the situation on TalkSPORT on Wednesday morning, Stelling, who revealed he was asleep when the story broke on Tuesday night, said: 'You know what? It didn't bother me, I'm not president of the football club anymore.
'It's my football club, I'm a lifelong supporter of that football club and if it came down to the fact that I travelled and stood with the Poolies, the Hartlepool supporters, wherever they are, then that's…
'I'd already bought my ticket – we're away to Yeovil on Saturday – I'd already bought my ticket to be with the fans, so I didn't get the issue or why Mr Singh wanted to raise it.
'But of course, then it was leaked to the media and then of course it all spiralled and spiralled out of control. The other thing that I took offence to was in the statement he says in the unlikely event that I attend games independently.
'Well, I mean, last season I went to Aldershot, Eastleigh, Solihull, Southend, Sutton, Wealdstone, Woking, Dagenham and Redbridge, Ebbsfleet, Maidenhead and a few others as well, so, it's not so unlikely that I'll attend.'
In his letter – which was sent last month – Singh wrote: 'You may be aware from media coverage that Jeff Stelling has resigned as honorary president of Hartlepool United Football Club.
'As chairman of Hartlepool United Football Club, I would kindly and considerately ask that Mr Stelling is not provided with official HUFC dignitary spaces in your boardroom or equivalent for any Hartlepool United fixture at your home ground.
'In the unlikely event that Mr Stelling independently attends any Hartlepool United fixture at your home ground, I'd further request that you consider to seat Mr Stelling separately to any HUFC dignitaries or staff.'
In response to Singh's move, the town's MP Jonathan Brash has in turn written to National League clubs urging them to treat the popular broadcaster with the 'respect and courtesy that he has most certainly earned'.
Stelling, who confirmed he had introduced the agent of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to the club after they had expressed an interest in buying it before they opted to invest in Wrexham, has insisted he would be happy to discuss the situation with Singh.
He said: 'I haven't spoken to Mr Singh for months – it might even be a year – so this was just completely out of the blue. I just don't regard it as any big deal.
'I don't think I'd be welcome at home games – I'd probably have to go in disguise – but certainly at away games, I'm very happy to go with the fans, no problem whatsoever. I'd rather go with the fans, let's put it that way.
'I'll be a Yeovil on Saturday and I'll tell you what, I'll say it right now – if Mr Singh is there, I'll be happy to meet him and have a chat with him.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Simon Jordan flies off the handle after Emma Raducanu asked for crying child to be ejected
After suggesting a crying baby should be ejected from her Cincinnati Open match against Aryna Sabalenka, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has come to Emma Raducanu's defence Simon Jordan unleashed an extraordinary rant in which he called for tennis and other sports to introduce age restrictions after Emma Raducanu asked for a crying child to be ejected from her Cincinnati Open match. The world No. 33 was midway through her third-round match against Aryna Sabalenka when the infant could be heard from the stands at a critical point in the clash. Raducanu was serving in the eighth game of a titanic encounter at the Lindner Family Tennis Centre when the controversial scenes unfolded. The 22-year-old gestured towards the audience as she pleaded with the umpire, who fired back by asking: "It's a child. Do you want me to send the child out of the stadium?" Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka was magnanimous after winning the match 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5), setting up a fourth-round duel against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. But talkSPORT pundit Jordan was left with a sour taste in his mouth after watching the exchange and launched into an angry rant. "Well, you can make it appropriate," the former Crystal Palace chairman said passionately, responding to host Jim White suggesting that sports events such as these can't ban children. "If they've got a baby inside an auditorium: A, I don't think it's particularly responsible parenting. And B, it's not reflective of the environment a child should probably be in! "And C, you've then got the distraction that tennis player, or anyone playing an individual sport that requires a degree of concentration, is going to be affected by. "So it's not me being some horrid, Wackford Squeers from some Charles Dickens book. It's me looking at it going, 'It's ridiculous. I wouldn't bring a young child. Theatres don't allow people to bring young children into auditoriums when actors are in the middle of acting so a kid can scream out and spit his dummy across the room.'" Jordan, who is known for being controversial and having strong opinions, then doubled down by reiterating his view that it's not appropriate for infant children to be present at such sporting events. However, White took a far more lenient view of the matter and laughed off Jordan's protest before calling for a softer approach. "You can take a baby on a plane," came White's reply, suggesting it would be silly to have varying rules for different public settings. However, the Scot could only chuckle when Jordan responded: "I don't suppose the pilot would want the baby in the cockpit, would he?" White continued to present the argument that it would be foolish to suggest babies be barred from attending major sporting events. But Jordan continued his tirade, adding: "I think it's ridiculous. Okay, bring [a baby] to snooker then. A screaming kid in snooker. Judd Trump leaning down to make [a shot]...'WAAAAHHHH [mimicking a baby's cry]!' That would be great, wouldn't it? "Bring them to the boxing, so they can watch blood and [thunder]. Get them to bare knuckle fighting, so they can get involved with that too!" White brought up the example of young children regularly attending football matches, to which Jordan made the counterpoint that it's not the same as bringing a baby. He went on to suggest there should be some form of age cut-off for certain events, with tennis among those disciplines that require more concentration by an individual athlete. Raducanu, meanwhile, will have to lick her wounds and go again after narrowly losing to Sabalenka in the action-packed match. The Brit will now head to the US Open and be feeling confident despite the loss, having put in some impressive performances since Wimbledon. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The National
a day ago
- The National
The double-edged Celtic sword Rangers must improve upon
In short, McCoist feels his former club's recruitment has been woeful, meanwhile, across at Parkhead, they've more often than not nailed their transfer business. That's why the ex-Scotland striker insists Russell Martin and the new ownership deserve time to implement the correct model required to match Celtic in order to give them the best possible chance of competing for the league. "They've got to give him that time," he said on talkSPORT. "Of that there's no doubt. He's got to get his new players in. "The first thing you've got to say is recruitment. When I say recently, I don't mean under Russell Martin's tenure because it's far too early to judge. "But recruitment's not been good enough. Recruitment's been shocking, effectively. What's highlighted that is the fact that recruitment across the city has been very, very good. "Recruitment at Celtic, particularly under Big Ange, you've got a couple of the Japanese lads in. They've been excellent. Terrific. "So, with a combination of Celtic's recruitment being very good and Rangers' being very poor. You're right up against it. Read more: "You must give Russell Martin time. The same way you've just got new owners coming into the club. So, that's going to take a little bit of time as well. "When they bought Leeds United, they didn't come in and start scattering cash about. They organised things and it takes a little bit of time. I don't mind that at all. "However, like a lot of Rangers fans, you can't really accept the level of performances against Motherwell and Dundee."
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Lionesses hero accused of lying about Euro 2025 final by Spain rival
Lionesses hero Hannah Hampton has been accused of lying about her penalty shootout antics during England's Euro 2025 final win over Spain. England defended their Euros title with a nervy penalty shootout victory over Spain last month. The final ended 1-1 after 120 minutes as England striker Alessia Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's first-half opener for World Cup holders Spain. England then won the penalty shootout 3-1 after Spain missed three spot-kicks in a row, with Hampton saving two of them. It was an inspired performance from a 24-year-old goalkeeper who was expected to play back-up to Mary Earps at Euro 2025 before the 32-year-old retired on the eve of the tournament. In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – sign up, it's an open goal. Reflecting on England's performance in Switzerland and her display in the penalty shootout last week, Hampton said she chucked her rival Cata Coll's water bottle into the stands. Spain goalkeeper Coll has taped a guide for where England players usually aim their penalties to the bottle but Hampton said she disposed of it at the first opportunity. Speaking on talkSPORT, Hampton said: 'The Spanish keeper had it (the penalty information) on her bottle, so I thought when she was going in goal, I'd just pick it up and chuck it into the English fans so she can't have it. 'I don't ever put it on a bottle because anyone can do that so I put it on my arm.' A stunned Sam Matterface replied: 'Picked up her bottle and threw it?' 'Yeah, it wasn't hard,' Hampton continued. 'When she's gone in the goal, it's on its own isn't it? It's in the towel.' But Spain star Coll has hit back at Hampton and accused her of fibbing about her antics in the final. 'Okay okay, calm down calm down,' Coll posted on social media with two laughing emojis. 'At least if it were true…' Images from the moment in question do show a water bottle in position for the duration of the shootout. Social media users have speculated that Hampton discarded of the wrong bottle. Hampton was unwilling to risk her penalty notes falling into the wrong hands, however, revealing she places them under her sleeve on her arm. Following her heroics at Euro 2025, Hampton has been nominated for the Yashin Trophy at this year's Ballon d'Or ceremony. The Chelsea shot-stopper has also been installed as one of the favourites to win the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award. Becoming a European champion was a stunning achievement for a player who was told she would never play football again due to a serious eye condition. The former Aston Villa and Birmingham star suffers with an eye condition called strabismus which she was diagnosed with since birth that could have ended her involvement in the sport before it even started. 'I was told from a young age that I couldn't play football, that it wouldn't be a profession I could pursue. But here I am,' she told the BBC prior to the win over Sweden. Back in 2021 she told ex-England goalkeeper Ben Foster's Fozcast podcast: 'When pouring a glass of water, I'll miss the glass if I'm not holding it. 'The girls do it to me all the time at training: 'Can you make me a cup of tea?' And hold the cup, saying, 'Can I have some milk, please?'. 'I'll just spill it on their shoes and then they moan at me. 'Well, it's your own fault, isn't it?' It's all a bit of fun.' Hampton also had to overcome family heartbreak during England's Euros campaign after her grandfather died two days before the start of the tournament. Writing on Instagram the day after England's triumph, Hampton said: 'Dear Grandpa. Two days before the biggest tournament of my life, you left. 'It still doesn't feel real. I kept thinking when I'd call nannie I'd hear your voice again – one of your jokes, or one of those little comments you'd make that somehow said everything without saying much at all. 'You were one of my biggest supporters. You believed in me before I even knew what this journey would look like. You were always there – watching, encouraging, teaching. 'You taught me so much, not just about football, but about life. About staying grounded, working hard, being resilient and doing things the right way. 'I miss our chats. I miss you saying 'Only us athletes understand' — always with a little smirk like you were in on something special. And you were. 'You got it. You understood what this meant to me. You understood what it took. More Trending 'It breaks my heart that you didn't get to see me walk out for our country at my first major tournament… something you dreamed of for me, something we talked about so many times. 'I wanted to see your face or hear your voice after the game calling back home. I wanted to share that with you. 'But I know, deep down, you were still there. I felt you with me. In the tunnel. On the pitch. In the tough moments. I heard you in my head when I needed strength. 'I hope I made you proud, Grandpa. I carried you through every minute. And I always will. I did it. WE DID IT.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Lioness legend Ella Toone announces engagement on spectacularly romantic Ibiza getaway MORE: Premier League players make decision on anti-racism gesture of taking the knee MORE: Ella Toone reveals her nan died on morning of England's Euro 2025 final win vs Spain
