Newcastle United’s press handling has come under fire again after sport journalists accused the football club of allowing just one newspaper and one broadcaster exclusive interviews with its new manager Steve McClaren.
The Daily Mirror’s current article on the appointment trails an “exclusive” interview with McClaren to be published at 10:30pm BST.
Journalists from the Times, Daily Mail, the Telegraph and the Independent have all vented their anger on Twitter, claiming the Daily Mirror and Sky have agreed a deal to get preferential access from Newcastle.
There will be no independent media interviews with new NUFC boss Steve McClaren. Preferred partners (Sky & Daily Mirror) only.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) June 10, 2015
Daily Mail correspondent Craig Hope tweets about the alleged deal with the Daily Mirror and Sky.
Here's McClaren leaving SJP in bid to evade independent Press. Spoke to him briefly, confirmed no interview allowed. pic.twitter.com/XrzhJo15Ay
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) June 10, 2015
Steve McClaren gagged from speaking to any media outlet other than @SkySportsNewsHQ and @DailyMirror - #nufc's preferred media partners...
— David Coverdale (@dpcoverdale) June 10, 2015
Sun journalist David Coverdale claims the new manager has been gagged.
Newcastle only inviting "preferred media partners" (Mirror, Sky) to report on appointment of their new manager. How utterly small-time.
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) June 10, 2015
The social media storm comes less than a year after the Sun and the club were forced to deny reports of an exclusive media partnership. In July last year, Mirror football correspondent Simon Bird was among a number of reporters who claimed the Sun was the only newspaper invited to a press conference.
A reminder of what that The Sun Mike Ashley #nufc tie up looks like... From last week's paper. pic.twitter.com/A7YqBSH1Q5
— Simon Bird (@SimonBird_) July 15, 2014
Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards was among those who pointed out the apparent role reversal.
Awkward @SimonBird_ https://t.co/oUz1KEKPTI
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) June 10, 2015
Newcastle have previously come under fire for barring local press from matches following critical coverage of owner Mike Ashley.
The Daily Mirror and Sky Sports declined to comment.
