Five long-standing journalists including a sports editor and chief sports writer are taking redundancy packages at a Scottish newspaper group.

Newsquest’s the Herald and Times Group has confirmed the departures from its Glasgow titles The Herald and Sunday Herald.

At The Herald, chief sports writer Hugh MacDonald is among those taking voluntary redundancy after 34 years there to go freelance.

And Sunday Herald sports editor Jonathan Jobson is leaving after holding the position since 2008 and having previously been part of the paper’s launch team.

Also leaving is columnist and writer Alan Taylor, who has written a diary for the Sunday title for the last 15 years. He is working on a book about Glasgow and will be writing regularly for the Times Literary Supplement.

And Herald food writer Cate Devine is also taking redundancy after 19 years, although she will continue to write for the paper in a freelance capacity.

Group digital head Calum Macdonald who has worked at the titles since 1990 has also left, having previously worked as group news editor and as a reporter.

A number of redundancies have also been reported at Johnston Press-owned Scotsman Publications, including three sports journalists who between them have clocked up around 82 years there.

Chief sports writer Stuart Bathgate departs The Scotsman after almost 22 years to go freelance, sports editor Colin Leslie has left after 16 years while, as previously reported by HTFP, rugby correspondent Bill Lothian is leaving his role at the Edinburgh Evening News after 44 years on the sports desk.

Others leaving the Edinburgh Evening News include chief writer Sandra Dick, who has worked for the paper for 20 years and associate editor Gina Davidson, who has been there for the last 16 years.

No-one from Johnston Press has so far responded to requests for a comment on the reports.

It was revealed last October that up to 45 jobs would go under plans to merge the editorial operations of the three Edinburgh-based titles.

And in February the Herald and Times Group announced that ten editorial roles were at risk and invited voluntary redundancy applications.