We've backed Wolves since 1889, but E&S will always be independent

So began the Express & Star comment column in yesterday's paper after we reported Sir Norman Bettison had been the Wolves owner's guest not just at last Saturday's game, but at numerous fixtures in recent years.

Our reports made clear that Sir Norman has never been found responsible for any alleged smear campaign or cover-up in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, but he does remain a deeply controversial figure in football circles.

• Wolves boss Steve Morgan and the Hillsborough cop

• Steve Morgan’s own goal with old pal Sir Norman Bettison

We made no judgments on the admirable Mr Morgan, who has made a huge financial and personal commitment not just to his club but also to this great city.

We reflected that some would see it as an error of judgement, given Sir Norman's involvement in the aftermath of Hillsborough and left people to make their own minds up.

There were some who said we shouldn't publish the story, on the grounds that it would 'stir things up' just as the team was turning the corner after two successive relegations.

But this did not involve on-field performances and we believe Wolves fans – and the wider football community – would find the pair's friendship newsworthy.

As the day went on, we were proved right; it was a big story, generating healthy sales, huge website traffic and our report was followed up by other local and national media.

Within hours, more than 4,500 readers took part in an online poll, asking whether Mr Morgan was right to invite Sir Norman to the game. Almost seven out of ten are saying he was wrong. The most ludicrous accusation amid the white noise of Twitter was we were somehow 'anti-Wolves' for publishing the story.

This newspaper has been supporting the club for well over a century, from the Football League's very first season through the glory years of the 1950s, the trauma of the Bhatti brothers to Sir Jack Hayward's revival, the highs (and lows) of the Premier League years and now this highly enjoyable 2013/14 League One campaign. But across all those decades, we have remained an independent voice.

That will never change.

No other newspaper has carried the Wolves flag so proudly and consistently as the Express &?Star – and that's something that will never change either.

Keith Harrison