SPORTS AGENDA: Sir Alex Ferguson attended Liverpool’s Champions League game against Rangers

It is to be hoped his performances in Qatar will not be sending the nation to sleep but that is the task which faces England striker Harry Kane, who will deliver a bedtime story on CBeebies at 6.50pm on Monday. 

The Tottenham man will read The Lion Inside, by Rachel Bright, which tells the tale of ‘a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar’. Kane chose the book as he reads it to his three children. 

Dalglish and Fergie banish enemies myth

Sir Alex Ferguson attended Liverpool’s Champions League game against Rangers at Anfield on Tuesday with his obvious connections to his former Glasgow club.

He was dining in one of the hospitality rooms and was beckoned over by Sir Kenny Dalglish to join him — again making nonsense of the myth that they were sworn enemies from their playing and managerial days.

Part of the conversation was taken up with Fergie bending his fellow knight’s ear with how he had suffered watching United’s 6-3 capitulation to rivals City. A number of United players were given the Fergie hairdryer treatment, including one of their big signings. Safe to say, he told Dalglish, he had enjoyed better Sundays.

Sir Alex Fergusonis pictured at Manchester United’s 3-2 win at Everton on Sunday evening

David Moyes wants assurances over Netflix show 

It would appear that not everyone is excited by the prospect of a behind-the-scenes Drive to Survive-style documentary on the Premier League. The makers of the Netflix F1 smash-hit want to do a similar series on the top flight but on a recent managers’ call the reaction was described as ‘lukewarm’.

West Ham’s David Moyes, among others, wanted assurances that bosses would have a say on whether it would happen, given that camera crews would have access to the inner sanctum of the dressing room.

West Ham’s David Moyes, among others, want assurances that bosses will have a say on whether the Netflix series on the Premier League will happen

Another BBC institution bites the dust 

Another week, another BBC institution bites the dust. This time, the axe has fallen on the World Service’s hugely popular World Football programme. 

The show is to end in March next year, the latest victim of nonsensical cost-cutting. The broadcaster says the title will remain and that World Football will run occasionally during major events. 

Relationship between UEFA and Super League agitators remains strained  

The relationship between UEFA and Super League agitators Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remains strained, if the governing body’s website can be used as a barometer. Since the aborted attempt 18 months ago there have been barely any features on the three clubs or their players. 

The relationship between UEFA and Super League agitators Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remains strained (Barcelona club President Joan Laporta pictured) 

Jimmy slams root’s captaincy

There were audible gasps last week at a Lord’s fundraiser for the Bob Willis Fund when Jimmy Anderson appeared to have a pop at Joe Root’s leadership skills. Anderson, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook and Jonny Bairstow were grilled by compere Mark Nicholas and all was going well until the topic of the former skipper came up.

‘It was laugh a minute and then it wasn’t,’ said one audience member. ‘Broad praised Root for the positive way he has contributed since relinquishing the captaincy, then the questioner turned to Anderson and there was a gasp after he hesitated and said: “He wasn’t a great captain”.’

Perhaps the Lancastrian still had the decision to drop him from the West Indies tour in his mind when quizzed about the Yorkshireman’s reign.

Jimmy Anderson appeared to have a pop at Joe Root’s leadership skills last week

Mike Forde joins dedicated sports fund 

Mike Forde, former sports psychologist for Sam Allardyce at Bolton, has joined the board of what has been described as the biggest dedicated sports fund in the market. 

Manchester-born Forde will advise where the investment goes for US-based Ares, which says it has raised £3.3billion of ‘sports, media and entertainment capital’. 

The group, which includes pop star Lionel Richie among its members, has already invested in Atletico Madrid, Inter Miami and the San Diego Padres. 

Footballers to boost their social media posts 

The more vain footballers in the Premier League will soon be able to log into an app to find pictures of themselves in action which they can then use on their social media accounts. 

Clubs have been uploading content to the app, known as Greenfly, and it is expected to be opened to players in due course. 

The date cannot come quick enough for press officers who get pestered for shots. 

Some have even set up WhatsApp groups with their squad and ping across action shots after each game. 

The more vain footballers in the Premier League will soon be able to log into an app to find pictures of themselves in action which they can then use on their social media accounts

Anger mounting on those north of the border

A number of clubs at the EFL’s recent summit voiced their anger at those north of the border for snatching some of the biggest prospects from their youth academies and then selling them to Premier League clubs. 

Scouts from Scottish clubs are a regular sight and, under FIFA rules, they have to pay considerably less compensation than their English counterparts, with some believing players are going for less than their worth. 

Arsenal’s long-serving Mark Gonnella leaves 

The departure of Arsenal’s long-serving Mark Gonnella means that by the end of the season just one of the Big Six’s PR chiefs in post at the time of the Super League breakaway debacle will remain in post. 

It is understood that communication bosses were aghast when they were made aware of the aborted split and the accompanying pathetic media strategy. Hardly surprising, then, that the top people at Chelsea, both Manchester clubs Tottenham and now Arsenal have departed. Liverpool’s Susan Black is the last person standing. 

The departure of Arsenal’s Mark Gonnella means that by the end of the season just one of the Big Six’s PR chiefs in post at the time of the Super League breakaway debacle will remain

SPFL’s £150m deal with Sky may have a knock-on effect

The SPFL’s new £150m deal with Sky Sports may have a knock-on effect on the EFL. League insiders feel the agreement, which allows the broadcaster to screen up to 60 matches per season, may ease their content fears should they miss out on renewing their deal with the EFL, which expires in 2024. 

The SPFL’s new £150million deal with Sky Sports may have a knock-on effect on the EFL 

Merseyside Youth Football League will be off next weekend 

All matches in the Merseyside Youth Football League will be off next weekend as the competition takes a stand following incidents of ‘inappropriate and threatening behaviour’ towards match officials from the touchlines. 

A compulsory meeting has been called this week, in an attempt to stamp out what they have described as ‘toxic behaviour’, and clubs who do not attend will not be given fixtures. 

Team GB’s Paris 2024 preparations have been boosted 

Team GB’s Paris 2024 preparations have been boosted thanks to a new running track which has been unveiled at one of their two preparation camps. Saint Germain-en-Laye, where the camp is situated, has upgraded several of its publicly-owned facilities, including laying a new running surface. 

Team GB’s Paris 2024 preparations have been boosted thanks to a new running track (file photo of the Olympic rings at the City Hall in Paris)

Contributor: Dominic King