View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
March 5, 2010

Norwich City accepts settlement from NoW

By Oliver Luft

Norwich City Football Club and its chairman Alan Bowkett have accepted a five-figure settlement from the News of the World over an article suggesting the club was in serious financial trouble.

The newspaper carried an apology last weekend and admitted that it had got the story wrong.

It said: “On 24 January, we said that Norwich City was on the brink of financial meltdown and could go into administration that week without major new investment.

“That was wrong because the club was not on the brink and they do not need new investment to stave off administration nor had they called in administrators.

“We apologise to the club and to its chairman, Alan Bowkett, for any distress caused by our error.”

The apology, settlement and a payment of legal costs followed Bowkett and the club launching a libel action against publishers News Group Newspapers over the story, which was headed “Canaries on Brink”.

Lawyers acting for the club had filed a writ at the High Court seeking an injunction and damages for defamation.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

In the writ, Bowkett said he was hurt, distressed and embarrassed by the story, which appeared when it was capable of causing the club “potentially very serious instability.”

Legal proceedings were withdrawn following conclusion of the settlement.

Bowkett told the Norwich City website: “We are delighted that this matter has been sensibly resolved, that the truth has been established and that the club’s reputation has been restored.

“It was disappointing that the News of the World published the article in question, and faced with that article the club had no option but to stand up and protect its position. We are pleased the matter is now concluded.”

Topics in this article :

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