View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
July 13, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 8:13pm

‘Unforgivable’ management blamed for Non-League crisis

By Press Gazette

The management of The Non-League Paper have been branded "unforgivable" by one of its leading contributors for taking the title into administration for a second time.

Dozens of freelances are owed money by the paper — including a number who have bills running into the thousands.

Freelance Colin Mafham, who says he is owed more than £7,000, has said he will not work for the paper again if it remains under the current management.

He said: "I'm extremely disappointed with the manner in which the paper has been run. To go into administration once is unfortunate, to go into it twice is downright unforgivable.

"I was foolish enough to allow the bill for my services to run up to more than £7,000, bearing in mind the previous fiasco there, but the message must be there for any young hopefuls not to try making their fortune with this particular regime."

Press Gazette has spoken to other journalists owed £5,000 and £2,000.

The title went into administration last month after a "huge hole" was found in its finances.

Content from our partners
Free journalism awards for journalists under 30: Deadline today
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition

The Non-League Paper had previously gone into administration in 2002, when £272,000 went missing from the company finances.

Current administrators Vantis are understood to be considering a number of offers for the NLP, which employs seven full-time journalists.

Editor David Emery said: "I'm very optimistic the paper will continue.

We've had some positive soundings from potential bidders.

"The irony for us all is that the man who helped us come through administration last time seems to have been the architect of our problems on this occasion.

None of the journalists in the company had any true understanding of what was going on.

"In the six years The Non-League Paper has been in existence, it has managed to supply very worthwhile fees and we hope to continue that in the future."

Following the NLP's problems, finance director Jonathan Stobart has resigned.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network