The Birmingham Post used the internet to break the story of two football club executives’ interviews with police.

A statement from City of London Police yesterday evening said that a 59-year-old man and 39-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.

It added that they were released on bail but detectives would not reveal their identities.

Post editor Marc Reeves said that the two ages struck a chord with sports reporters who suspected the two were Birmingham City FC co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady.

The team was promptly tasked with confirming that their identities.

Marc said: “We spoke to two or three contacts and confirmed exactly who it was. Then it was a race to get in online.

“We had spoken to enough people to be satisfied and also our legal team.

“It was good old-fashioned fun with the web at the heart of it.

“It was very interesting – I am very much learning about the life cycle of stories online.

“About five minutes after we got in online Sky also reported it.

“It was very satisfying as for a fairly long time we were the only people to get in online.”

The interviews are part of a wider investigation by City of London Police’s economic crime unit into football corruption.

Today’s Birmingham Post front page splashes with the story and inside there are further backgrounders about Mr Sullivan’s and Miss Brady’s history at the club.

In a separate development, Birmingham City FC said this morning that it was suspending trading of shares pending a further announcement later today.