Forget the £19m carrot, ambitious Poch must think long and hard on Toon if he wants to win trophies

RICK PARRY says the EFL, of which he is chairman, is “at the point now where strong, definitive action is needed for the good of the league and its members”.

Perhaps Parry (below) should have provided some then.

There are many things wrong with EFL plans to finalise positions by an unweighted points-per-game system if League One and/or the Championship are curtailed.

Tranmere, three points behind AFC Wimbledon with a game in hand, would be relegated by 0.06 of a point if they don’t kick a ball.

But a team from League Two, which has already been curtailed, could replace them via a four-team play-off competition

That simply does not seem fair. But the weakest part of the EFL’s decision is not making a decision. Instead, it is off to the ballot box where, if 51 per cent of the League One clubs vote to curtail the season, Tranmere will be down.

It is now all about self-interest. Parry and the EFL board should have made the decision themselves.

The EFL clubs do require “strong, definitive action”. It is just a shame it has not been forthcoming from the governing body.

IF you want a reminder of just how much we need live sport to make a comeback, tune into today’s exhibition match as Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning play Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady.

All for a good cause, but the contrived banter will be excruciating.

After these four alpha males have joshed their way around the Medalist Golf Club in Florida, the days of petulant pros berating their caddies, cursing and swiping the air in annoyance will not come quickly enough.

SOMETIMES it is fiendishly difficult to accept Mauricio Pochettino has not won a single trophy in 11 years as a coach.

When you hear suggestions that the incoming Newcastle United owners will be prepared to offer £19million a year for his services, it is almost preposterous to be reminded Pochettino has only taken a team to the final of a knockout competition twice.

One of those was the League Cup – and he lost both those finals without his team scoring a single goal.

When you listen to the revered tone in which the overwhelming majority of Spurs supporters speak of Pochettino, it is tough to come to terms with the fact that his final two seasons saw Tottenham finish 23 and 27 points adrift of the title winners.

But there is little doubt that Pochettino is the hottest managerial free agent out there.

In a shop-window interview to mark the end of his Tottenham gardening leave, he pretty much said so himself.

“We are a coaching staff that is open to listening to all the projects, all the people,” he said, expertly employing the royal ‘we’.

It will not just be very expensive to hire Pochettino, it will cost another packet for his trusted sidekicks.

Should the Saudi Arabian takeover get the go-ahead, as seems likely in the coming that Champions League few days, Newcastle could Final, for producing some probably afford Pochettino entertaining football, for (above) and his entourage. playing a key role in

“You always dream of the developing Tottenham into perfect club, the perfect a club with world-class project,” said Pochettino. facilities, Pochettino will “I’m very open to waiting for consider himself the first cab the seduction of the project off the rank for one of rather than the country.” Europe’s elite jobs.

Offering just It was probably no shy of an coincidence on Friday that annual he recounted an anecdote 20million quid from the days when he was would be some tipped to take over from Jose chat-up line, to Mourinho at Real Madrid. be fair, but what are the Newcastle, under new chances of Pochettino considering ownership, WOULD be Newcastle – even some project. But it would with wealthy new owners – be a long-term one.

“the perfect club, the perfect Even with owners willing project”? to invest heavily, the road to

Slim and none – £19m or Big Six territory would be an no £19m. arduous one.

For making Spurs top-four For all his talk of projects, regulars, for getting them to Pochettino surely wants to crown his coaching career with a trophy or two. And a big trophy or two, at that.

He will want to go to a serial winner.

On the basis he is proven in competing at the top end of the table, albeit without winning it, and that he might be a better draw for top players, you can understand why Pochettino would be considered a more attractive proposition than Steve Bruce for new owners.

But Bruce has done little wrong at St James’ Park and some stability would be ideal in a football world that, like everything other business, faces an unstable future.

He may well be looking for a ‘perfect project’ – but Pochettino and Newcastle are far from the perfect match.