Scudamore gamble fails

RICHARD SCUDAMORE’S iron grip on Premier League business has been severely weakened by his failure to orchestrate a new TV rights distribution formula.

Today’s proposed second club summit on the issue has been cancelled because, as Sports

Agenda revealed yesterday, there were still 11 teams opposing scudamore- supported plans which needed a 14-6 majority to go through.

Even the revamped proposal that would only involve new money above the £3.6billion from the current overseas rights deal failed to shift entrenched positions.

A PL statement read: ‘It has become clear that there is currently no consensus for change, meaning tomorrow’s club meeting is not necessary.’

scudamore, the most adroit operator in English football, had surprisingly put his weight fully behind the Big six clubs’ push for a larger share of the overseas market, when previously he had always championed unity.

Failing to get the move over the line will leave him vulnerable and he will go into the forthcoming TV contract negotiations knowing the Big six are unhappy with their lot — a situation he was desperate to avoid.

The PL position is that scudamore did his best to bring about the change but there wasn’t the appetite.