Scudamore sweats on TV money pact
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are finally expected to reach a compromise on the overseas TV money dispute at their summer meeting starting today.
But it will be a close-run thing for executive chairman Richard Scudamore, who has taken the precaution of scheduling an additional session on TV rights tomorrow if the impasse remains.
The Big Six clubs are likely to start the debate — and Scudamore has staked his reputation on a successful outcome — with the support of West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Brighton, with Huddersfield wavering. But that is still well short of the 14-6 majority needed for a change in the PL statutes which since 1992 have decreed an equal distribution of foreign TV rights income.
The Big Six want the champions to receive 80 per cent more than the bottom club — with others receiving money on a sliding scale — but more likely is for common ground to be found at 60 or 70 per cent.
TODAY’S Premier League meeting will discuss an offer from Coca-Cola, believed to be £10million a year, to become their seventh official partner. The deal will help the League bring in more revenue from a set of backers than from one title sponsor.
THE woeful Stan Collymore, now reduced to working for Kremlin apologists Russia Today, has a loud overbearing voice, which meant his terrible interview technique received a wide audience at the England media day. Collymore’s ignorant opening gambit to Raheem Sterling (above) was to suggest he was the only one in the room who could hold his hand up as a current Premier League title-winner. Nearby were Sterling’s three Manchester City colleagues John Stones, Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph. Collymore was as disparaging as ever about media colleagues, including calling your Sports Agenda columnist a ‘rotter’ and a ‘fat frog’ in a live Twitter video.
A STAFF reshuffle at the top of the FA signals that a potential bid to host the 2030 World Cup has moved a step forward. Director of communications Rob Sullivan is to head a beefed-up international department given added responsibilities.
Sullivan’s workload is likely to include the seven games at Wembley during Euro 2020, the bid to host the women’s Euro 21 and preparing the ground for a possible World Cup bid, provided Europe are the chosen region and UEFA unite behind England. Sullivan’s able deputy Louisa Fyans will become the new FA communications chief after the World Cup. These changes, including others in the IT and participation departments, also point to chief executive Martin Glenn staying at the helm at least until Euro 2020 when there had been speculation he would leave earlier.