A regional publisher has bought two new titles as it aims to expand its news and sport offering online.

National World has announced the purchase of independent digital football publisher ScoopDragon and video-first news title NewsChain.

ScoopDragon runs 50 websites offering news on individual football clubs, while NewsChain focuses on news, celebrity and football-related content.

NewsChain also runs World of Women’s Sport, which is included in the deal.

National World says it has made the acquisitions as part of its strategy to “develop new formats and increase the size of its customer base”.

Strategy director Alan Renwick, pictured, said: “We’re delighted to have completed these key deals which align with our digital growth strategy.

“With the founders of the businesses continuing to work with National World to help develop and integrate the sites, this also supports the company strategy to develop a more entrepreneurial, fast-paced and innovative digital culture.”

ScoopDragon was formed in 2012 by Ashley Balchin and runs sites aggregating news for each of the Premier League clubs and the majority of teams in the Championship, the division below.

NewsChain is the trading name of Not A Newspaper limited, a startup formed in 2019.

The deals come less than two months after National World pulled out of a potential bid to buy its larger rival Reach plc.