SECRET TRYSTS FOR BIG SIX OVER TV RIGHTS CASH

IF Richard Scudamore thought he had pacified the Premier League’s Big Six with a larger slice of overseas TV rights before he stood down as executive chairman, it seems he was mistaken.

Powerbrokers at Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are still very much an item, with the exclusive private dining rooms at Mosimann’s in Belgravia understood to be their regular haunt for secret meetings. Sports Agenda has been told they even have a WhatsApp group.

Such is their desire to continue acting together in pursuit of a bigger share of TV rights cash, they made sure they met Susanna Dinnage before the TV executive suddenly changed her mind on becoming Scudamore’s successor.

Senior figures in the game think it was this testosterone-charged encounter just before Christmas that persuaded Dinnage to stay as global president of Animal Planet.

The search for a new chief executive, led by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, continues in vain. Last week Richard Masters, the Premier League’s managing director, was confirmed as interim chief executive at Companies House, but the PL are anxious to hire an administrator with more television know-how.

Dinnage’s expertise in TV and digital media was thought ideal given some insiders feel the organisation will explore whether to launch their own streaming service. UEFA announced similar plans last week and will unveil the originally named UEFA TV from 2021.