Senior Leadership
Danny Wright
Danny has been with Breaking Media for almost a decade, rising to become the company's Head of Editorial. Danny is an expert editor, with a specialist eye on SEO, planning, growth areas, and staff development. Danny graduated from Staffordshire University in 2016, and has previous experience writing for the Birmingham Mail and Macclesfield Town FC. Based in Staffordshire and raised by an Aston Villa-supporting mother, Danny has been key in helping Villa News become an all-encompassing website for supporters to get all the news on the goings on in B6. Danny has been influential in detailing the club's biggest stories in recent years, including the failed tenure of Steven Gerrard, the rise of Unai Emery, qualification for the Champions League, and battles to remain within the parameters of PSR.
Mark Smith
Mark is the second-longest serving member of the Breaking Media team, rising through the ranks from writer to deputy editor. Mark is a highly skilled editor, with a particular expertise in headline writing, and finger on the pulse for trending content that fans love to read about. Mark graduated from Leeds Trinity University in 2018, and is based in Wakefield. He has covered Villa News since it was launched in 2022, documenting with forensic detail the club's rise to perennial Champions League contenders under Unai Emery.
Pete Hanson
Pete moved to Breaking Media in 2023, initially as an assistant editor before being promoted to the Head of Editorial Standards. Pete has over a decade of experience in the industry, having previously worked for the Press Association and Stats Perform, covering all manner of major events live on the ground including the Tokyo Olympics and several Open Championships. He has degrees from both Leicester University and Sheffield Hallam, and is based in Sheffield. Pete's speciality is in talent development, and strategy planning, as well as looking at new content strands for Villa News.
Daniel Lewis
Daniel joined Breaking Media in 2023, initially as a writer, but was promoted to deputy editor within a matter of months. After graduating from the University of South Wales, Daniel has previous experience working at Sports Mole and Stats Perform, covering major events such as Champions League finals and the World Cup. As well as being a hugely accomplished editor, Daniel is an expert is statistical analysis and trending topics. He has covered deep-dive analysis on Aston Villa since joining the company in 2023, highlighting the biggest topics at the club in that time – including qualifying for the Champions League in the 2024-25 campaign.
Villa News Experts
Keith Hackett
We are delighted to welcome Keith Hackett, one of the top 100 referees of all time, as our new columnist. Keith's refereeing career spanned over 19 years as he officiated in the Football League and Premier League and was FIFA listed for 10 years. From FA Cup finals to the European Championships and the from the PGMOL to writing books, it's harder to find anyone who knows more about refereeing than Keith.
Villa News Speaking to Bryan King
Bryan King has two periods as a scout at Aston Villa, amounting to 11 years. The former Millwall goalkeeper has also spent lengthy spells of his post-playing career at Everton and Tottenham, where he was instrumental in the signing of Luka Modric. He's now sharing his expertise on the transfer market - as well as other talking points - for Villa News.
Senior Contributors
Max Wilkins
Max is a senior writer at Breaking Media after joining the company in the summer of 2024. He graduated from the University of Derby, and would go on to accrue experience in the industry at GRV Media and Vavel. Max is a diehard Villa supporter and Birmingham native, who has held a season ticket for over 10 years, witnessing the lows of relegation but the highs of the Championship play-off victory and the rise to Champions League football under Unai Emery. Max works closely with former Aston Villa scout Bryan King, and is an expert in gaining exclusive content, as well as deep-dive statistical analysis. He has been influential in the company's coverage of Villa's rise to perennial European contenders under Emery.
Contributors
Declan Carr
Declan joined the Breaking Media team as a writer in November 2024, after graduating from Liverpool John Moores University with a Masters degree. Based in Liverpool, he has gained experience working at Sports Mole and Vavel, and is now an expert in breaking news and long-form opinion content. Declan has played a prominent role in exploring the viewpoints of Villa supporters in relation to their Premier League performances, the management of Unai Emery, and the decisions made by NSWE.
Aheed Abrar
Aheed has been a senior writer at Breaking Media since 2024, joining the company after gaining his Masters in sports journalism from Sheffield Hallam University. With previous roles at Milkiyat, Youth Ki Awaaz, and FFO Sports publishing, Aheed has already accrued extensive experience in the industry. Based in Sheffield, Aheed is a transfer expert who has covered all the major signings and exits at Aston Villa under NSWE.
Cameron Smith
Cameron joined the Breaking Media writing team in February 2026. He graduated from Birmingham City University in the summer of 2025, and has built up industry experience with Football League World, Bulinews.com and Vavel, as well as having work published by the Express&Star. Based in Staffordshire, Cameron is an expert on statistical analysis and data deep dives, providing extensive coverage of Aston Villa's style of play.
Daniel Davis
Dan is an experienced sports journalist and journalism lecturer. He graduated from Bournemouth University in 2019 and spent six years working on the Daily Mail's sports desk. He has also previously held roles with Reach PLC, GRV Media and GiveMeSport. He joined Breaking Media in March 2026 as a sports writer, working across the company's club websites. Dan plays a prominent role in covering Aston Villa's youth prospects, as well as doing in-depth stats analysis of all the goings-on at Villa Park.
Jacob Raw
Jacob was appointed as a writer at Breaking Media in September 2025 after graduating from Teesside University. He built up his portfolio of work with the likes of the Northern Echo and Durham Cricket Club. Based in Middlesbrough, Jacob has a penchant for long-form opinion, and deep-dive content, helping to provide expert analysis of all the goings on at Villa Park.
James Barker
James joined the Breaking Media writing team in December 2025, having graduated from the University of Sunderland 18 months prior, and gaining experience working at Football League World – where he had editing responsibility. Based in Durham, James specialises in writing long-form opinion and statistical pieces on Aston Villa, diving deep into what supporters want to read about.
Josh Edwards
Josh joined Breaking Media in October 2024 and is now one of the company's most senior writers. Based in Durham, he graduated from Sunderland University in July 2024, gaining experience at FanHub and the Sunderland Echo, and launched his own podcast 'Speak Sunderland'. Josh is a transfer and exclusive expert, who has helped extensively cover Villa's squad development in recent years, while also playing a leading role in coverage of the Champions League campaign in 2024-25.
Richie Mills
Richie joined the Breaking Media team in January 2026, after building up an extensive catalogue in the journalism industry with likes of Goal and Wardle Whittell Agency. Based in London, Richie gained his sports journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon before starting his career in news and moving across to sports journalism. Richie is an expert in fan-engagement content, and also provides deep-dive features on Villa News.
Samuel Fabre
Samuel was hired to the writing team at Breaking Media in August 2025, having graduated Bournemouth University earlier that summer. During his studies, Samuel gained work experience with Get Football Group and Trill Magazine. Based in Oxford, Sam has covered Aston Villa extensively since joining the company, with a laser focus on preview and matchday build-up content.
Scott Mason
Scott was hired as a football writer by Breaking Media in January 2026, after previously working at GamingINTEL and GRV Media. Based in Dublin, Scott gained his degree in sports journalism from the University of Wolverhampton in 2022. Scott provides expert news coverage of all the goings on at Villa Park, as well as longer-form opinion content.