Three regional newspapers in northern England are to fold their Saturday sports editions, according to a report today on Holdthefrontpage.co.uk.
The Grimsby Telegraph, Lincolnshire Echo and Hull Daily Mail are introduce dedicated sports websites, as reported here earlier this month.
According to Holdthefrontpage, falling sales have been cited as a major factor for the move, and each of the three sports publications will be printed for the last time in June.
The Hull Daily Mail was the first to launch its sports website, www.sporthull.co.uk, last month, and sportstelegraph.co.uk has now gone live for the Grimsby Telegraph and Scunthorpe Telegraph.
All the papers are part of Northcliffe’s North East division.
The Grimsby Telegraph‘s Saturday sports edition had been published for more than 100 years, and at its height sold more than 12,000 copies a week. Today it sells between 2,500 and 3,500.
Editor Michelle Lalor said: “We understand that for many sports fans in North East Lincolnshire, this weekly Saturday paper has been enjoyed for many, many years.
“Like them we are sad to see it go but we are incredibly excited about our new sports website and the endless possibilities it offers.”