Leedsunited.com 23/12/06
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST
United chairman Ken Bates has moved to explain the club's current relationship with the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Writing his programme notes for Saturday's game against Hull City the chairman explained to fans: "You should be aware that all is not well in our relationship with the YEP.
"Co-operation between the club and its local paper is vital but it cannot be one-way traffic.
"Leeds United needs the YEP to get its message across, the YEP needs United's stories to help sell newspapers.
"Of course the YEP should be impartial while supportive but unfortunately this no longer appears to be the position.
"When Kevin Blackwell left, Phil Rostron, the YEP Sports Editor, wrote an article under his own name, making serious allegations against the club.
"At Mr Rostron's request we had a meeting in an attempt to clear the air. Phil promised to justify his claims on the following Monday but didn't telephone me and I haven't heard from him since.
"We sent a solicitor's letter on October 3, didn't get a (totally unsatisfactory) reply until October 31, so reluctantly, we issued a writ on November 2.
"The YEP's defence should be served on December 27, last week their lawyer requested more time to reply, in fact until January 24.
"Despite this, we have continued to offer the YEP the same facilities as the rest of the media, although the players have their own quarrel with the YEP, of which Mr Rostron was left under no illusion when he met Kevin Nicholls and Gary Kelly last week.
"Despite Yorkshire Radio being very supportive of St George's Crypt's Christmas Appeal, the YEP denied them access to report on the opening of a new centre on December 8 2006.
"The final straw was the back page headline in the YEP 'Poyet is in a Panic'. Gus was furious and rightly so.
"In the circumstances and with much regret the YEP will no longer be welcome at Leeds United until the legal wrangle is resolved."I'm sorry for any inconvenience to our fans but of course you can still get all the news and views via Yorkshire Radio, the SMS texting service and the website www.leedsunited.com which is compiled to two ex YEP correspondents."
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST
United chairman Ken Bates has moved to explain the club's current relationship with the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Writing his programme notes for Saturday's game against Hull City the chairman explained to fans: "You should be aware that all is not well in our relationship with the YEP.
"Co-operation between the club and its local paper is vital but it cannot be one-way traffic.
"Leeds United needs the YEP to get its message across, the YEP needs United's stories to help sell newspapers.
"Of course the YEP should be impartial while supportive but unfortunately this no longer appears to be the position.
"When Kevin Blackwell left, Phil Rostron, the YEP Sports Editor, wrote an article under his own name, making serious allegations against the club.
"At Mr Rostron's request we had a meeting in an attempt to clear the air. Phil promised to justify his claims on the following Monday but didn't telephone me and I haven't heard from him since.
"We sent a solicitor's letter on October 3, didn't get a (totally unsatisfactory) reply until October 31, so reluctantly, we issued a writ on November 2.
"The YEP's defence should be served on December 27, last week their lawyer requested more time to reply, in fact until January 24.
"Despite this, we have continued to offer the YEP the same facilities as the rest of the media, although the players have their own quarrel with the YEP, of which Mr Rostron was left under no illusion when he met Kevin Nicholls and Gary Kelly last week.
"Despite Yorkshire Radio being very supportive of St George's Crypt's Christmas Appeal, the YEP denied them access to report on the opening of a new centre on December 8 2006.
"The final straw was the back page headline in the YEP 'Poyet is in a Panic'. Gus was furious and rightly so.
"In the circumstances and with much regret the YEP will no longer be welcome at Leeds United until the legal wrangle is resolved."I'm sorry for any inconvenience to our fans but of course you can still get all the news and views via Yorkshire Radio, the SMS texting service and the website www.leedsunited.com which is compiled to two ex YEP correspondents."
