'We suggest United look closer to home for the sources of the disquiet - rather than shooting the messenger'

Manchester United is a Mancunian institution. It's a privilege to have them on our doorstep and to cover them minutely. But we are not on the club's payroll.

Our job is to report what's happening in the organisations that matter to our readers. And that includes our great football clubs.

We do not publish anything lightly and all of our stories are sourced and checked. We have a responsibility to the readers who place such trust in us to faithfully report what we know and what we see.

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That's why Manchester United's decision to ban our Chief Manchester United writer from attending a press conference - for reporting a story in good faith - is so concerning.

We want to have a cordial and positive relationship with those at Old Trafford. The club was still called Newton Heath L&YR Football Club when we first began reporting on them.

When the Munich Air Disaster robbed the club - and the city - of some of its brightest stars. Our reporter Tom Jackson was among the dead.

From the highs of the Treble, to the rancour of the 2005 takeover, we've never stopped talking about United - because Manchester United is part of the life of the city... and so are we.

So we cannot ignore what we know is happening. It is in the interest of the supporters. And it's in the interests of the club.

Contrary to what a broadcaster told Erik ten Hag last week, we do not 'like' to see United in crisis. There's a big overlap between our readership and the loyal match-going fanbase of Manchester's clubs.

And there are many around the world who rely on our pages to keep in touch with