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Football's Ally behind Scots newspaper launch

A new weekly newspaper is due to hit the streets of East Kilbride next month, with the backing of two well-known Scottish newspapermen – and football star-turned-TV soccer pundit Ally McCoist.

The East Kilbride Mail is the brainchild of Steve McLaughlin, former circulation director of the Daily Record, and Crawford Brankin, one-time editor of the Scottish Mirror, while Ally will act as the “public face” of the Mail.

It will give the area its second weekly newspaper, rivalling Trinity Mirror’s well-established East Kilbride News.

Steve said: “East Kilbride is a vibrant, growing community and the ideal place to launch a new newspaper.

“There is a lot happening in the town and we intend that the EK Mail should reflect the bounce and liveliness of the community.”

The new title will be published midweek, but the exact slot, together with pagination and price are still to be determined during the next few weeks.

Based in new premises at the town’s Hairmyres Station, the Mail will have an initial staff of ten, split evenly between editorial and advertising, and will be edited by Ross McKay.

Steve, who was previously managing director of Score Press and also ran Regional Independent Newspapers’ Scottish locals, will be managing director.

Crawford, who held senior positions at The Sun, The Herald and the Glasgow Evening Times prior to launching the Scottish Mirror, will be a director.

They will also be the two main shareholders, with former Rangers and Scotland player Ally holding the third-biggest share.

Steve said: “Ally McCoist is East Kilbride’s most famous son and I am delighted that he is with us on this exciting project.

“There are some good omens here. Ally and Crawford worked together on Ally’s biography which was a No.1 bestseller and Crawford and I worked together on the launch of the Scottish Mirror which also went from strength to strength.

“There is a great sense of excitement around the office. When we advertised for staff we were inundated with replies and I am delighted at the calibre of our recruits.

“There has also been considerable interest among advertisers who want to be in our opening editions. It’s a very encouraging start.”

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