Two sports journalists have been recruited to launch new paid-for titles in a regional publisher’s expansion into rival territory.

Newsquest has announced the launch of the Hibs Observer and Hearts Standard to cover Edinburgh football clubs Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian respectively.

National World chief Hibernian writer Patrick McPartlin has been poached to edit the Observer, while Joel Sked, who was a colleague of Patrick’s covering football at the group’s Edinburgh-based titles until July, will run the Standard.

The model follows Newsquest’s launch of two sites covering the main clubs in Glasgow, Celtic and Rangers, with The Celtic Way and Rangers Review.

However unlike Glasgow, where Newsquest publishes flagship Scottish daily The Herald, Edinburgh is historically the territory of Scotsman and Edinbirgh Evening News publisher National World.

Both the new football websites are offering subscribers and introductory rate of £12 for a year’s subscription, or £1 for six months. Annual and monthly renewals are priced at £34.99 and £2.99 repsectively.

In an editorial, Patrick wrote: “With a new manager in the dugout, the ongoing drive to finish best of the rest, the search for an immediate return to European football, and the upcoming 150th anniversary celebrations, it should be another intriguing season in EH7 and the Hibs Observer will be there every step of the way to provide the best, and widest, range of journalism about your club, balancing passion and emotion with a measured and mature approach.

“We know taking out a subscription is a big ask, and we also know that as the new kids on the block, you won’t know what to expect from us.

“But we believe in what we are doing, are excited by this opportunity.

“We are confident that we can provide something new and fresh for Hibs fans. And we want to work with you to bring you the content you want to consume.”

Joel added: “We believe in what we are doing, and we truly believe we can provide something new, something fresh for Hearts fans. And we would love for you to get involved and support us.

“We understand that the club’s fans are already investing in season tickets, merchandise and paying monthly pledges to own their club but subscribe for as little as £1 for six months or £12 for 12 months and become a partner in our quest to create something special.”

Jonny McFarlane, Newsquest Scotland’s head of digital sport, told HTFP: “This is big for us at Newsquest Scotland as we continue our disruptive Scottish sports coverage agenda.

“The Hibs Observer and Hearts Standard websites are brilliant additions to our team and I’m particularly happy to have two uber talented and ambitious editors in Joel Sked and Patrick McPartlin at the helm.

“I’m sure they will drive the brands from strength to strength in the months and years ahead through our subscription model.

“The respective teams will deliver top class, modern coverage centred on the simple idea of quality over quantity. There will be no clickbait here, that much I guarantee.

“Long reads and tactical insight through our partnership with StatsBomb will give the readers unparalleled, granular insight into the club they love.”

Editor-in-chief Callum Baird added: “This is next step in our mission at Newsquest Scotland to create and develop news and sports brands that readers love and will want to pay for.

“The Hearts Standard and the Hibs Observer are two new digital publications with mission statements to cover both Edinburgh clubs with a depth and quality never seen before.

“Long reads, deep-dive tactical analysis, regular video debates and briefings – we’ve got a content plan that we know fans will love, and in Joel Sked and Patrick McPartlin, we couldn’t have appointed better editors to connect with the fanbase.

“It’s another big investment from us, creating more new jobs in Scottish sports journalism following the success of the Rangers Review and The Celtic Way over the past two years.”