Matt Lawton is going back out on the road.
A year after becoming the Daily Mail’s executive sports editor following 11 years as the paper’s football correspondent, the pull of writing has proved too strong for Lawton, who starts as chief sports reporter this weekend with a Jack Wilshere interview in Saturday’s paper and Sunderland’s match against Liverpool on Sunday.
“It’s a job that is going to evolve,” Lawton said. “I will be branching out into other sports, I’m looking forward to doing interviews again and writing stories with a newsy edge.
“I also look forward to covering events that I have not done before, like Wimbledon.
“As much as I have enjoyed working in the office for the last year, deep down I realised that the part of the job I enjoy most is being out there.”
Lawton became No2 to sports editor Les Snowdon after 20 years as a reporter. He had worked for the Express and the Telegraph before joining the Mail 12 years ago.
Alex Kay, 29, is to replace Lawton as deputy sports editor. Kay is another graduate of the Daily Mail’s training scheme, which has also seen Mark Alford, Laura Williamson and Luke Benedict move into senior positions across the newspaper and online.
“I am delighted that Alex has continued to make such rapid progress and I’m sure he will prove to be hugely successful in his new role,” said Lee Clayton, the Mail’s head of sport.
‘”Matt Lawton will add considerable firepower to our team on the road and it means less demand for the office stash of Percy Pigs.”
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