Venables alleges that in an article written on October 14 2006, Karren Brady, the managing director of Birmingham City, libelled him in her column.

The alleged libel relates to Brady's references to the DTI charges against Venables, which resulted in the former England manager being banned for seven years as a company director.

In the intervening months lawyers for both sides were in contact, with the Sun maintaining it had not printed anything which warranted an apology, although the paper was prepared to give space to Venables to represent his side of the story

Venables issued proceedings earlier this month. If the case should go to trial it could see a fascinating court battle between the columnists for the two Murdoch papers.