The Northern Ireland newspaper interests of the Trinity Mirror group could be up for sale as early as August, as the company conducts a review of its whole business.
The company has refused to comment on British media reports that its executives have already approached leading publishers about a sale.
However, the group will release details on the outcome of the review on July 31st. At that stage, the papers could be put up for sale, with interested parties likely to come from Ireland, Britain and the United States.
Trinity Mirror owns two newspaper groups in the North: Century Newspapers Ltd and the Derry Journal Group. Century comprises the staunchly unionist Belfast Newsletter and the Belfast News and Farming Life.
The Derry Journal Group consists of the Derry Journal, the Donegal Democrat, Letterkenny Listener and the Foyle News. The group used to own the Sunday Business Post but sold it two years ago to the Examiner group.
According to a Financial Times report, two publishers - US group Gannett, which owns USA Today, and UK group Johnston Press - have been approached.
Several Irish publishers might take an interest in the titles, among them Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH).
Interest from Independent News & Media is unlikely as it is trying to sell a large number of regional newspapers in Britain. It owns the Belfast Telegraph and a bid for the Newsletter might raise competition issues.
TCH has titles in the North such as the Newry Democrat and the Down Democrat.
Mr Chris Wade, spokesman for Trinity Mirror, told The Irish Times that all parts of its operation were being looked at but it had promised the market it would not comment before July 31st.
Trinity Mirror has been under severe financial pressure in the past year as its national titles, particularly the Daily Mirror, have hit all-time circulation lows. The paper's anti-war stance during the Iraq conflict was blamed by many in Britain for contributing to circulation losses.
The former magazine executive Ms Sly Bailey became chief executive of the group in December 2002. She is believed to be eager to sell some assets but she has ruled out selling national titles the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror, the People, the Scottish Daily Record and the Scottish Sunday Mail. Shares in the firm soared earlier this year on takeover speculation.
