SWINDON Town chairman Lee Power has lifted the ban on the Swindon Advertiser reporting on the club after a meeting with editor Gary Lawrence yesterday.

Power banned the Advertiser last Monday after reporter Sam Morshead Tweeted the news that controversial striker Nile Ranger was in the team to play Peterborough an hour and 45 minutes before kick-off.

Power said Town manager Mark Cooper was told by Peterborough counterpart Darren Ferguson that he had changed his team after being told of the reporter’s Tweet.

But the news had already been leaked by fans who posted a picture on Twitter of Ranger’s shirt while on a changing room tour 45 minutes earlier. The player himself also used social media to say he was in the team.

Coverage of the club has been restricted with Morshead not invited to press conferences before games or the press box during them. Club officials and players were told not to answer his questions afterwards.

Lawrence met Power and director Sangita Shah at the County Ground to discuss lifting the ban.

Lawrence said: “We had a full and frank exchange and Lee made it clear how he felt about the Tweet and other issues around reporting of the club. I was able to explain our position and make a few points about what we do and why we do it.

“It was helpful and I was able to appreciate why Lee was upset and I hope he was able to understand that the paper, and Sam, are among the club’s most fervent backers in this town but we have a job to do and as long as we do it responsibly we have to be free to get on with it. It is clear that Lee wants the best for the team, the club and its supporters. We agreed that lifting this ban and moving on is the best way forward for the club as a whole and the fans.

“Sam works incredibly hard to provide the best and most in-depth coverage of the team and he’ll continue to do that. I’m grateful for Lee making time to sort this out and now we get on with our work.”