Lad, 17: I won't sell his website for £8.5M

[WurkAnimal]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007120092,00.html

and he is using vBulletin! (his website won't load for me - too much traffic maybe

[Caiman]

The sun input the url as 'http://sharpenews/' - idiots. (

[forumguy]

Yup. How can I see the site?

[---MAD---]

Hmm I tried sharpenews.com and it wouldn't load :s.

[SaN-DeeP]

Its www.sharepenews.co.uk but unable to load the site (not sure why)

http://www.4to40.com/newsat4/index.asp?id=921&category=international

A Cheltenham teenager has reportedly turned down £8.5million to sell his website.

A Cheltenham teenager has reportedly turned down £8.5 million to sell his website.

Nick Coates, 17, runs Sharpenews, a global news site aimed at young people, reports the Sun.

It has had 89 million hits in 18 months and rakes in £2,500 a month from advertisers.

Several firms have made big offers but Nick insists he doesn’t need the money.

He said: "I could walk away with about £4million - but I'm not interested in that at the moment."

Nick started the site when he was just 12. It now has 70 contributors worldwide and has won awards including website of the year.

He is also studying for four A-levels and even works ten hours a week at a local electrical goods store.

There VB forums here -> www.sharpenews.co.uk/vBulliten/ but alas cannot load

[Jose Amaral Rego]

I do not see why he just not sell and open up a simular forum. Unless he enter into a contract that states that he will not do so.

You think google hits would show up, but I only see one reference to site?
EDIT:
Just content page system might be seeing those hits and I think a person name Jamie runs vbulletin.
You can check here to see when site maybe up and functioning again.

http://www.hertsyouth.com/sn/

If he ever wants to grace us with his presents, then he would reply to us if he wishes to do so. Another would be just let him be, as he does have a vbulletin forum and at the moment has issuses.

[Floris]

I wouldn't sell either

[Joe Page]

Incredible

[Quillz]

I do not see why he just not sell and open up a simular forum. Unless he enter into a contract that states that he will not do so.

You think google hits would show up, but I only see one reference to site?
EDIT:
Just content page system might be seeing those hits and I think a person name Jamie runs vbulletin.
You can check here to see when site maybe up and functioning again.

http://www.hertsyouth.com/sn/

If he ever wants to grace us with his presents, then he would reply to us if he wishes to do so. Another would be just let him be, as he does have a vbulletin forum and at the moment has issuses.

He doesn't want to open "a similar forum." This is his site, and he intends to keep it that way. I'm glad to see he hasn't fallen victim to the temptation of money yet.

[Chroder]

I'd sell it for 8.5 mil unless I was already well off. I have family and friends who I would share it with (god knows there's enough of them that need some!), and I have more important things in my life that a little money would help along. My sister is moving back home this week to save some money because she's completely broke and can't afford another year at college -- I'd sell my site just to help her out.

"Temptation" or not, money rules the world unfortunately.

[Quillz]

I'd sell it for 8.5 mil unless I was already well off. I have family and friends who I would share it with (god knows there's enough of them that need some!), and I have more important things in my life that a little money would help along. My sister is moving back home this week to save some money because she's completely broke and can't afford another year at college -- I'd sell my site just to help her out.

"Temptation" or not, money rules the world unfortunately.

Yes, but we know nothing on this webmaster. He may be well off, but if it's something he enjoys doing it, there is no reason he should feel obligated to give it up.

[WurkAnimal]

It was the BBC who offered him 8.5M

[Joe Gronlund]

He looks alot older then 17..

[Chroder]

Yes, but we know nothing on this webmaster. He may be well off, but if it's something he enjoys doing it, there is no reason he should feel obligated to give it up.

Yeah of course Just making a point that taking money isn't necessarily because someone is greedy for it.

[ManagerJosh]

Offer is very tempting, however 4 Million isn't a whole lot of cash for a website if someone's offering. It's chump change, imho.