Broadcaster Jeff Stelling has vowed to join Hartlepool fans on the terraces amid an escalating row with the National League club’s owner.

Former Sky Sports and now TalkSPORT presenter Stelling joked on Tuesday evening that he might have to dress up as a Blues Brother to support the club after Raj Singh wrote to Pool’s league rivals, urging them not to admit him to their boardrooms this season.

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 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…

“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.”

Hartlepool issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon insisting that the letter was written asking opposition not to seat Stelling in “dignitary places”.

A statement on the club website said: “For absolute clarity, neither the club nor chairman have asked for other clubs in the National League to exclude or ban Mr Stelling from matches at their grounds.

“The letter that the club recently sent to National League opposition simply informed opposition that Mr Stelling no longer held a formal role and considerately asked opposition not to allocate Mr Stelling dignitary places or seating, so as to avoid any unnecessary confusion or embarrassment on match days for the benefit of all parties including Mr Stelling.

“Mr Stelling is of course able to attend away matches in any other capacity, as he stated was his intention when he resigned. At no point has the club or chairman requested or suggested that be otherwise.”

In his letter – 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, 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”.