Incredible. Incredible. I told him he looks handsome. His face has thinned down.

These figures come at a difficult time, with regional and local newspapers subject to the same market forces as other consumer products and media. Despite this, a number of regional newspapers have seen some very impressive results due to investment, audience research and focusing on what their readers want.

But I think the emotion factor is still there and it is precisely what makes sports sponsorship so powerful. There's nothing that gets people as involved as sport.