Southgate’s media woo

England manager Gareth southgate made an eloquent speech at the Football Writers association tribute evening for Pele — albeit in the Brazilian’s absence — in which he looked forward to the media and his england squad enjoying a better rapport at the World Cup in Russia than has been the case at previous major tournaments.

But even with the Fa putting plans in place to encourage an entente cordiale with the Press and no Gary ‘give them nothing’ Neville involved in the england set-up any more, only one thing as ever will dictate relationships...results.

BRYAN SWANSON, Sky Sports News chief reporter, had the nerve to ask his boss Barney Francis the big question at the last staff meeting at Isleworth. How would the recent platform-sharing deal between BT Sport and Sky affect the Premier League rights auction? Francis jokingly called Swanson a ‘bastard’ for putting him on the spot — but nevertheless swerved giving an answer.