Hardy leads crackdown on Twitter

ATHLETIC are stamping down on the use of social networking websites by players and staff.

Growing concerns in the corridors of power at Boundary Park have led to the introduction of a new code of conduct for all employees with Twitter, Facebook and Myspace accounts, and those who participate in forum messageboard discussions.

The ease with which potentially damaging or even libellous information can be displayed online for all to see sparked a rethink at the latest board meeting.

Twitter in particular has been in the spotlight both nationally and locally of late.

Ryan Giggs’ alleged affair with a former Big Brother

contestant became the hot topic in the House of Commons following weeks of speculation posted by users of the site.

And Athletic are contemplating legal action against ex-player Joe Jacobson after he suggested on Twitter that his former team-mates had not been paid on time again — something the club

vigorously denied just hours later in a statement.

Chief executive Alan Hardy said: “It is difficult to ban staff totally from using social media.

“But at the last board meeting I did bring up the introduction of a code of conduct for all of our employees who use such sites.

“It was agreed at the meeting that the new rules will come into play before the start of next season, so our staff will have to sign up as soon as possible.

“The problem with social media, which is so

accessible, is that people can write completely untrue things on there — and other users believe it.

“At this stage I cannot go into details about the finer details of the code of conduct, but there will be rules in place should any of our staff use their accounts in an inappropriate manner.”

Meanwhile, Hardy has revealed season ticket sales for Athletic’s 2011-12 npower League One campaign have matched — and are on the verge of surpassing — the amount snapped up this time last year.

He added: “We are very pleased. Fans still wanting to buy season tickets can do so and make savings on matchday admission prices in the process.”