The paper began publication as The Manchester Daily Express on May 22, 2006, and was published five days a week until February 27, 2008.

[4] Modeled on free daily commuter papers in larger cities, publisher Jody Reese wrote in a front-page article on the final day of daily production that the paper was unable to generate enough advertisement revenue to support daily publication.

[5] The Manchester Express was owned by Quality of Life Publications,[5] the parent company of Hippo Press, which also produces the free arts and entertainment weekly paper, The Hippo, and other local publications.

The Express was printed at the presses of Foster's Daily Democrat.

[citation needed] The paper had a circulation of 12,000 in 2006.