I'm commenting on direct quotes. Are you saying The Sun made up quotes like the "foundations of sand" one and then pretended Hudgell said them?

Please feel free to elaborate.

It's simple. The first test in any defamation case is not what was said (or even whether it was truthfull), it is what damage the statement may have caused to the character of the aggrieved party.

If I was to say "Ian Huntley has never bought a TV Licence", he would be extremely unlikely to bring a successfull case for defamation. If however I said "Gordon Brown has never bought a TV Licence", then I'd be the one on shaky ground.

Whatever Hudgell may think, it's extremely unlikely that any court would find that HDM had contributed to any lessening of HKR's character, especially as the chairman has been in the press (and on web forums) and basically said the same things as HDM

Whilst I think it is much better to work with the local press than against them the fact is the accounts were for 2008 and the paper did write the article like they represented the clubs current financial situation. Given what HKR have said since it is obviously inaccurate and could be damaging to the company. If the HDM asked Rovers for an update before the story went to press and we refused to give them one it is our own fault, if they just ran the story based on 12 month old accounts they read then they should be held accountable for poor reporting.

Has Hudge been onto you already for Coddys details