Block Big Six bid for a fatter share

THE least surprising news of the week was that the Premier League’s Big Six are looking for a fatter share of overseas television rights.

Presumably so Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham can pay players and agents more millions while they allow games to be moved to even more ridiculous times.

And to hell with the devoted fans who like to go to an away game.

Arsenal versus Liverpool on Christmas Eve? No problem, just give us more dough.

Anyway, working on the basis that Manchester United are a bigger draw than Huddersfield Town in Kuala Lumpur and Kansas City, the top-end clubs want to put an end to the relative equality in TV cash.

There is a proposal on the Premier League table, saying 35 per cent of the international TV rights should be shared on merit, by league position.

In other words, the Big Six would coin more in.

As overseas rights are expected to boom, there is a lot for them to gain – and for the strugglers to lose.

Nine clubs are in favour of the proposal. To be passed at a meeting this week, it needs the support of 14. It should be resisted at all costs. This Premier League is not as competitive as most seem to think.

The Big Six are threatening to dominate this season, as they did last.

Voting to make them even stronger would be plain stupid.

I CONFESS to having not seen an awful lot of Celtic this season and suspect Gareth Southgate might admit to the same.Having seen Scott Sinclair’s goal at Anderlecht, though, maybe it is time Southgate at least gave them a second glance.Unless playing in the Scottish Premiership automatically precludes you from England contention – like playing in the Championship seems to do.