SJA member Gary Payne has been appointed as the deputy sports news editor at the Guardian and Observer group.
Payne has covered football and rugby at The Sun since 2004, initially joining from what he calls “their excellent graduate trainee scheme”, spending some time initially working from the Glasgow office. He has operated as rugby No2 to Tony Roach, including working on the 2007 World Cup.
It was Payne who earlier this season broke the story that William Gallas was to lose the Arsenal captaincy.
An economics graduate, Payne played rugby for Exeter University and at Blackheath. He is a a regular attendee at SJA.
As yet, Payne has no official start date for his new job that includes website coverage at the group’s new offices, where he’ll be working to sports news editor Mark Redding in the 24/7 sports department under head of sport Ben Clissitt.
“I’m thrilled to be joining GNM and see it as an exciting and major step in my career,” Payne told sportsjournalists.co.uk. “It’s an unrivalled opportunity to work across all three titles and I can’t wait to start.
“But I’d also like to thank all my friends and colleagues on The Sun who have helped me get this far. I’ve had an incredible five years years at the paper and learned so much, so quickly.”
â–¡ Since moving to its new offices at Kings Cross, the Guardian, Observer and guardian.co.uk sports department’s new phone number is: 020 3353 4080