Giles Elliott to leave Transworld as market for sports books wanes

Transworld editorial director Giles Elliott is leaving Transworld after 10 years. His role was made redundant following a decision by Transworld to publish fewer sports books in the face of what it calls "a rapidly declining market".

Elliott was credited by Transworld for his "terrific editorial skills and encyclopaedic knowledge of sport to build a wide-ranging list of distinguished books".

He has edited autobiographies by Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville, Jimmy Connors and Ronan O’Gara, as well sports-writing such as And God Created Cricket, 32 Programmes, The Yellow Jersey Club and the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, The Secret Race. In addition to other William Hill shortlistings, he edited two Irish Sports Books of the Year, Autobiography of the Year at the British Sports Book Awards and Cricket Book of the Year.

A statement from Transworld publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr said: "We have taken the difficult decision that, in the face of a rapidly declining market, Transworld will be publishing fewer sports books in the future and therefore no longer require a dedicated editorial director in the genre. As a consequence, Giles’s role has been made redundant".

"I’d like sincerely to thank Giles for his contribution to Transworld’s publishing and to the editorial team over the last decade and wish him all the very best for the future."

Elliott said: "I am sad to be leaving Ealing, especially after a cracking first half of 2017 with commercial and critical successes with Centaur by Declan Murphy and Ami Rao, The Secret Footballer: What Goes on Tour, Bunce’s Big Fat Short History of British Boxing and Underdogs, as well as paperbacks by the likes of Henry Winter, Johnny Herbert, Duncan Hamilton and the Bill Bryson of football writing, Dave Roberts. I am however excited by the new opportunities elsewhere that this decision presents."

Elliott's last day at Transworld will be Wednesday 28th June. He can be contacted thereafter at gilezinho@gmail.com.