Reports of the Sunday Sport’s death were greatly exaggerated.
This weekend will mark exactly two years since the paper relaunched, or to quote its managing editor Mark Harris, since “its phoenix like ascension from the ashes of the deceased Sports Media Group” – and expansion is on the cards.
Former owners, Sports Media Group went into administration on April 1st, 2011 and it looked like the end of the Sport’s unique contribution to print journalism. Few will forget former editor, Tony Livesey (now a presenter on Radio 5 Live), trying to fact-check the story, Alien Turned Our Son Into A Fish Finger, on Channel 4’s Cutting Edge (sadly couldn’t find the clip online for you).
A month later, the Sunday Sport was bought out of administration by David Sullivan, who first launched the title in 1986.
Now, according to Harris, Sunday Sport (2011) Ltd is “flourishing” with 3 editions of the paper a week – Sunday Sport, Midweek Sport and Weekend Sport (the Daily Sport title wasn’t included in the buy-out deal) and a digital edition.
While staff numbers haven’t risen to the 100+ of 4 years ago, they are increasing, with 40 in total, including 25 journalists. This expansion means that in June it’s moving to larger offices in Lancastrian House near Lancashire County Cricket Club.
This Sunday’s edition will also herald the arrival of a new regular columnist, in the form of Terry Christian.
