Newcastle United have denied rumours that there is dressing room unrest at the club.
The Telegraph reported that the Magpies' sizeable French-speaking contingent has caused a divide at St James' Park, but managing director Derek Llambias has moved to dismiss such speculation.
"The club is determined to turn things around and everyone is working together to secure that goal," Sky Sports News quotes him as saying.
"It is not helpful when people try and distract the team and the manager with false rumours."
Llambias's sentiments have been backed up by both Papiss Cisse and Cheick Tiote, and the club has banned The Telegraph from its matches and press conferences until it issues an apology.
The newspaper issued the following statement in response: "We regret the club's decision to ban The Telegraph from attending matches and press conferences, but will not allow it to prevent us providing the most incisive, trustworthy Newcastle coverage, rather than pandering to what the club want you to read."
Newcastle currently lie in 17th place in the Premier League table.
Mark Langshaw
