The Plymouth Evening Herald is claiming it was first with the news that Argyle boss Paul Sturrock was on his way to Southampton.

The evening title announced the football club manager’s impending departure with a lunchtime special edition on Wednesday.

In a story tagged ‘exclusive’, Evening Herald sports editor Andy Phelan revealed that Paul had been offered a £1m-plus contract to become the new manager of Premiership club Southampton.

And the newspaper’s phone lines were soon red hot with calls from Argyle fans from as far afield as North Sea oilrigs and Italy, who were all seeking confirmation of the news.

Other media were quick to follow, and ‘Sturrock to Southampton’ has since been making the headlines across the country.

Paul, who has helped Argyle climb to the top of Division Two, succeeds fellow Scot Gordon Strachan, who is thought to have recommended him for the job.

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