By Sarah Lagan
The South Wales Echo’s 90-year-old Saturday night sports newspaper, the Sports Echo, has become the third regional newspaper sports title to close in the last couple of months.
It is understood that Trinity Mirror, owner of the 24-page title formerly known as The Football Echo, took the decision because of changes in the sporting calendar, with less sporting fixtures on Saturdays, and changing demands from readers for how they want sport covered.
Trinity recently closed the Newcastle Journal’s Pink ‘Un and Northcliffe axed the Bristol Evening Post’s Green ‘Un, stating similar reasons.
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It is unlikely that there will be any redundancies as a result of the title’s closure.
Circulation of the Sports Echo has been in decline for some time and with a print run of 2,000 it is understood that the company did not see the publication as commercially viable.
A Western Mail & Echo source said: “Many of us feel that more could and should have been done to protect and promote the product.”
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South Wales Echo editor Richard Williams said: “The football and rugby worlds in particular have been switching games from Saturday to accommodate live TV and this has had a serious effect on our ability to provide comprehensive coverage.
“Also, technology has changed how the media reports its sports news.
“Sports fans in South Wales will know they can still count on the Echo to deliver on the weekend sports stories every Monday with all the big interviews, reaction and views. Our grass roots Game On supplement on a Wednesday continues to ensure that all sports in the region are given the coverage they deserve.”
The final issue of the Sports Echo will be published on Saturday (14 January).
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