A regional daily led the way yesterday in breaking the news of the new ownership of Notts County.

Former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson quit as County’s director of football last night after the debt-laden League Two club was bought by Lincoln businessman Ray Trew for £1.

News of the Trew takeover first broke on the Lincolnshire Echo’s dedicated sports website sportsecho.co.uk just after 2pm yesterday.

It was swiftly followed up by The Times Online with other national media outlets racing to it shortly afterwards.

The scoop was down to solid groundwork by Echo reporter Leigh Curtis who had been working on the story for the past two weeks.

He said: “As with all stories of this nature, you rely on impeccable sources to not just provide, but trust you with certain information. I was first alerted to Ray’s interest two weeks ago and since then it has merely been a case of playing a waiting game.

“I was finally tipped off on Friday that the deal was in the process of happening and it was pleasing that sitting on my hands had paid off because jumping ship too early could have alerted rival media.

“It was pleasing that Sports Echo was first to break the news and I know the sports editor and his deputy both wore big grins as the likes of Sky and the BBC started to play catch up. I know Ray from his time at Lincoln City and he’s a nice guy.”

Comments

S.G.Eriksson (12/02/2010 12:32:10)
Curtis, Have you been hackin’ into my emails? Sven

Tord Grip (12/02/2010 13:06:17)
And mine?!

dippa (12/02/2010 13:29:33)
A real chip off the old block, well done my son.