The struggling title was relaunched for the fourth time in September under the leadership of former Now editor Jane Ennis and was the publisher’s last attempt at making the title a success.

Under Bauer’s ownership, First could be put on the chopping block as last year the German-owned publisher axed its own attempt of a news-led title with In the Know, which at launch rivalled First.

However, a spokesperson for First said: “First is showing significant evidence of reaching and connecting with a new audience of upscale women who are looking for a sophisticated lifestyle weekly."

H Bauer closed In the Know in May 2007 within a year of its launch after it posted an actively purchased circulation of 107,660 in the four months leading to December 2006 (source ABC).

Bauer may also consider axing its own women’s weekly title Bella as its circulation continues to plummet after it adopted a more celebrity feel and was repositioned at a 30-something market in the first half of 2007.

Despite launching a marketing campaign in the third quarter in an attempt to regain readership, the title is being tracked by EPOS at 220,000, 30 per cent down year-on-year from 316,000 and 11 per cent period-on-period to 247,390.

Bella rivals ACP NatMags’ Real People and IPC’s Woman and Woman’s Weekly, which are the leaders in the classics sector posting ABCs of 369,982 and 369,926 for the first half of 2007. The classics sector is expected to suffer a slight drop across the board for the second half of 2007.