Ian Wright in magazine joint venture

Arsenal striker Ian Wright and upmarket publisher the Magazine Collection have formed a joint venture to publish a football and lifestyle magazine.

The Player, to be launched in April, will be a glossy upmarket bi-monthly aimed at men aged 20 to 44 and is the latest entrant to the burgeoning men’s magazine market.

Dennis Publishing’s Maxim launches in mid-March following the launch of Rodale Press’ Men’s Health and Stonehart’s XL in January.

The in-house ad team will target sports advertisers and mainstream consumer advertisers in the drinks, cars and fragrances sectors. Advertising manager Pippa Nicholson says the title will include lifestyle editorial but will rely heavily on Ian Wright’s contacts to gain exclusive access to international football players.

The Magazine Collection, which publishes Polo International and a number of upmarket contract magazines, plans to take the Player monthly as soon as possible. It will launch with an ad campaign created in-house for the mid-market and quality national press, posters, Capital Radio and Virgin 1215.

Haymarket’s football magazine Four Four Two has posted a second three-monthly