Sports First puts back its launch again

Sport First, the UK’s first national sports newspaper, is likely to delay its launch until next year because vital funding has yet to be secured.

Publisher Parliamentary Communications says although there is sufficient funding to launch the paper, it is reluctant to go down the same route as Sunday Business.

Sport First advertising director Peter Burt says the launch date, which has been delayed several times, could be as early as late autumn or next year – mid-way through the 1996/97 football season.

He denies Sport First won’t launch. However, he says there has been a “loss of positive reaction” caused by at least three delays.

It was originally hoped Sport First would be launched before Euro 96, then before the Olympics, and finally August 12. Six daily publications per week were mooted.

Bert says staff already hired would continue to work for the newspaper despite the delay.

Sunday Business, put into voluntary administration in June, could be sold by the end of the week according to administrator Royce Peeling Green.