Tottenham must play hardball
It is a dereliction of duty if a football club do not fight hard to achieve the maximum payment possible when selling one of their players. In listening to offers for Harry Kane from Manchester City it is not surprising that Tottenham would play hardball in negotiations to reach their preferred valuation. It is the responsibility of Kane to realise this and not do anything to undermine his club’s ultimate goal. We hear so much of what Kane has given to Tottenham and what Tottenham owe him and very little of what Tottenham have done to develop the talent that is now Kane.
I truly hope that Kane can leave with his self-respect intact and be welcomed back by the fans of Tottenham as a favourite son in the years to come.
Wilson Mclellan, Northampton
Striker should respect contract
It is such a shame to see Harry Kane following in the footsteps of other big-name stars by demanding a transfer simply to fulfil personal ambitions.
Kane and his agent were happy enough for him to sign his existing contract. Why do they think they can break this agreement when it has so long to run? What has happened to Kane’s integrity? Patrick Osada, Warfield, Berks
Supporters have a responsibility
Football is nothing without fans is a reasonable argument (Jim White, Aug 17). However, while fans argue that they should have more say on all aspects of how their teams are run, including which players are bought and sold and how the rules of the game are interpreted by referees, it would appear that these same fans in increasing numbers this season continue to absolve themselves of their responsibilities towards the game.
Before a ball was kicked last weekend fans had caused damage and injury in our town centres and on arrival on the terraces they recommenced their obscene and anti-social behaviour, which in recent years has become their trademark and has not improved the reputation of our wonderful game. The chanting at our grounds used to be humorous and at times hilarious as the wit of the various fans brought added enjoyment throughout the game.
However it is certainly no credit to today’s so-called football fans that their chants are now just vile, obscene and angry and are clearly intended to intimidate.
Football is the greatest game on the planet but its reputation is certainly in the hands of the supporters, just as much as the players and the administrators. No one section of our game can absolve themselves of their individual and collective responsibilities.
Brian D Rigby, Sale
If you win the toss – bat
It appears that the England cricket captain needs to be reminded of the Test match adage: When you win the toss, you think of inserting the opposition, then you bat.
Tony Lawson, Slough
Hundred is no help to Ashes hopes
A mere eight days of championship cricket between June 6 and August’s end says it all about the state of today’s English game and the mindset of the England and Wales Cricket Board. We have instead the banal Hundred, seemingly at best a preparation for a pop festival. The Aussies must be terrified.
Bill Collier, Earby, Lancs
Women’s Open deserves better
I was so grateful for James Corrigan’s piece “BBC’S late-night slot an insult to women’s golf ” (Aug 18). It was fantastic to see the kind of feminist progress in The Telegraph that I have been vainly anticipating in the print media for more than 20 years.
Corrigan rightly assails the BBC for its insulting programming of the Women’s Open, which is even more egregiously discriminatory given that we all (women included) pay our TV Licence, a tax on viewers for patriarchal propaganda.
Thank you again, James.
Dr T M Murray, London
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