The “lads’ mags” market, already suffering from a fall in circulation as readers turn to the internet, was dealt another blow on Thursday as average sales figures for the half year to December showed that the malaise has now firmly spread to the weekly titles.

The figures came on the day that Felix Dennis, flamboyant publisher of the men’s lifestyle magazine Maxim, said he was exploring the possible sale of his Dennis Publishing magazine empire. Will Drew, meanwhile, editor of the rival title Arena, resigned on Thursday.