The source told PrintWeek that the creditors as a whole forced the company's closure.

SMG, which published the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport, went into administration earlier this month and the Guardian reported today that Desmond was a "key player in its demise".

However, PrintWeek has been told that a number of creditors decided to pull the plug on the company, which led to the first closure of a UK national newspaper in 16 years.

The source said: "For the Guardian to report that Desmond was responsible is misleading. SMG could not pay its bills - in that situation business is business and if you can't pay your bills people aren't going to provide you with a service. It would be more accurate to say that a number of creditors were responsible."

Desmond's publishing company Northern & Shell printed the two publications at its Westferry and Broughton facilities, making it one of SMG's main creditors.

The Guardian reported that Northern & Shell was concerned that SMG would not have been able to pay its debts going forward, regardless of a restructure of the business.

Northern & Shell did not wish to comment.