Ray Ryan, the News of the World‘s former north-east football reporter, has launched his own sports news agency promising to deliver “hard, decent” stories to the nationals.
Ryan says he has a handful of former Fleet Street colleagues and colleagues teaming up with him to deliver more than the staple fare of match reports and press conference coverage.
Ryan, 40, had been with the Wapping Sunday for 14 years after spells at the South London Press, Match magazine and Hayters.
“Although there are many good sports agencies out there who make a decent living from the national papers, it appears they have taken on a role of covering football games and press conferences,” Ryan told HoldtheFrontPage.com.
“Although we will do that when requested, I believe there is a gap in the market for an agency to supply hard hitting stories and exclusives.
“I am in talks with three other journalists and between us we have excellent contacts who can provide the papers with some hard, decent copy. For legal reasons I can’t disclose who they are yet but the rest of Fleet Street will hopefully sit up, take notice and realise we mean serious business.
“I have received some good advice from some of the best operators in the business over the years. We can make this operation a success.”