Southampton have banned journalists from carrying out interviews with supporters around their home stadium of St Mary's.

The Premier League outfit, who have had an ongoing dispute with local newspaper the Southern Daily Echo, have prohibited reporters from conducting vox pops due to "health and safety guidelines".

"We spoke to lots of fans outside the club's zone of influence," Echo editor-in-chief told Holdthefrontpage.co.uk.

"It's all very silly really as you can't prevent fans from having a say and trying to do so just makes you look intolerant of other viewpoints.

"It looks as though other media, including the BBC, are simply getting a taste of what we have had to put up with for some time."

The South-Coast club banned all press photographers from attending the ground in 2010.