SPORTS AGENDA: Jeff Stelling set to succeed Laura Woods at talkSPORT
SPORTS AGENDA: Jeff Stelling is set to succeed Laura Woods as host of talkSPORT’s breakfast show… PLUS, the reason Arsenal waited nine days to complete £105m Declan Rice transfer
- Jeff Stelling is close to agreeing a new role following his Soccer Saturday exit
- Ally McCoist is expected to join talkSPORT colleague Laura Woods at TNT Sports
- Bahrain has been eyed as a base for players who are joining clubs in Saudi Arabia
Jeff Stelling is the front-runner to succeed Laura Woods on talkSPORT’s breakfast show.
In what would be a considerable coup for the broadcaster, the former Sky Sports Soccer Saturday host, who left the station at the end of last season following 25 years in the role, is close to agreeing a deal that would take him onto the nation’s airwaves.
It is thought that Stelling’s potential arrival would not impact on Alan Brazil, who would continue to present on Thursdays and Fridays. Award-winning Woods will front ITV’s coverage of the upcoming women’s World Cup and is rumoured to be in line to replace TNT presenter Jake Humphrey.
Meanwhile, Ally McCoist – also of the talkSPORT stable – is to join TNT for the forthcoming season in another significant swoop. It remains to be seen what impact – if any – the move will have on McCoist’s other work with the radio station, Amazon Prime, Sky and ITV.
Covering a Champions League match and then being on air early the following morning, for example, may be a tough ask for the Rangers legend.
Jeff Stelling is the front-runner to succeed Laura Woods on talkSPORT’s breakfast show
Award-winning Woods is expected to replace Jake Humphrey as a host on TNT Sports
Ally McCoist is expected to follow Woods in joining the rebranded TNT Sports this season
Gunners wait until payday for Rice splurge
Some have wondered if the timing of the completion of the long-running Declan Rice transfer, which was announced on Saturday, may have had anything to do with the fact that the giant injection of television money landed in clubs’ bank accounts from the Premier League on Friday.
Insiders have disclosed that terms were agreed around nine days before big-spending Arsenal’s official declaration that they had landed the West Ham midfielder in a £105m record deal.
The swoop, which takes the England man across London, is the Gunners’ third of a statement summer, following the arrivals of Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, for a fee that could reach £65m and defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax in a deal that may end up costing £38.6m.
Arsenal confirmed the club record £105m signing of Declan Rice from West Ham on Saturday
The deal was confirmed the day after the receipt of Premier League television money
ECB’s highlights software struggles to catch drops
England’s cricketers are not the only ones missing catches. Eagle-eyed viewers who watched the ECB’s highlights of the first day’s play at Headingley noted that not one of England’s four dropped chances – which included Joe Root shelling Mitchell Marsh on 12 before he went on to make 112 – featured in the 15-minute package.
Some wondered if the ECB were attempting to airbrush history but it would appear that not catching is catching.
The ECB use automated software to capture highlights and one of the sticking points they currently have is that the technology struggles to pick up drops. Hence the missed opportunities were subsequently missed. Their supplier is currently working on the issue.
The ECB’s automated software to capture highlights has struggled to pick up dropped catches
Bahrain eyed as a base for Saudi-bound players
Bahrian is emerging as a potential base for the families of some of those heading to Saudi Arabia. Agenda understands that players and agents are looking into the possibility of situating their relatives and close friends in the neighbouring country thanks in no small part to its more tolerant stance on alcohol.
While drunken behaviour in public is against the law, booze is legal in Bahrain, with a number of bars, licensed restaurants and off-licences. That is not the case in Saudi, where booze is off limits, although there have been reports that this stance may be relaxed at certain resorts in the near future.
Barnsley’s pre-season trouncing exposed by fans
Barnsley’s decision to hold their friendly against Leeds at Oakwell behind closed doors may have seemed like a good idea, especially when the hosts were trounced 9-1.
However, word of the fixture, on the League One club’s practice facility, got out and a group of fans gathered on a hillside overlooking the pitch to take in the one-sided action, before news of the result was broken online.
For their visitors and new manager Daniel Farke it was a positive afternoon with club record signing Georginio Rutter netting twice along with a goal from ex-Manchester United winger Dan James. Both are expected to play a key role as the Yorkshire giants look to secure an immediate return to the top flight.
Meanwhile, Leeds’s takeover by 49ers Enterprises is set to finally confirmed by the EFL in the near future.
Anderson gives up The Open invite ahead of fourth Ashes Test
Jimmy Anderson was due to play in The Open Invitational golf tournament on Sunday but gave up his place ahead of a potentially crucial fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford. The Lancashire seamer was set to join the likes of Everton keeper Jordan Pickford, boxer Tony Bellew and former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh at the Royal Liverpool.
However, with England 2-0 down ahead of their victory at Headingley Anderson, perhaps wisely, decided that his appearance may not be a good look and was replaced by Jermaine Jenas. With the Lancastrian set for a recall at his home venue on Wednesday, it may well have been the right call.
Jimmy Anderson gave up his place in The Open Invitational golf tournament on Sunday
Anderson was replaced at the event by former footballer turned pundit Jermaine Jenas
Former FIFA ref who clashed with George Best dies
The FIFA referee Norman Burtenshaw has died at the age of 97. Burtenshaw was known as one of the fittest officials and was no stranger to confrontation, once being attacked by a mob of Millwall supporters.
A strict disciplinarian, he also sent off George Best for calling him a ‘clown’ amid an expletive rant during a match at Chelsea. An FA disciplinary hearing later accepted Best’s story that he had actually sworn at team-mate Willie Morgan – which the Manchester United legend would later admit in his autobiography was a version of events that he had made up.
Burtenshaw had a newsagents in Great Yarmouth and the following morning was asked by a small boy if he was the man who had sent Best off. Burtenshaw said he had no option, to which the boy replied ‘My dad told me not to come in again’ before departing.
ITF’s pride in Jabeur’s rise despite Wimbledon heartbreak
Despite losing her second successive Wimbledon final there’s still enormous pride in Ons Jabeur from the International Tennis Federation.
The Tunisian will be featured prominently on the cover of its annual review, which is due to be published later this week.
The ITF sees Jabeur’s climb through the ranks to become the first Arab and African woman in a Grand Slam women’s singles final as evidence its international development funding is working.
Jabeur benefited from financial support from the ITF’s Grand Slam Player Development programme, a scheme designed to encourage and increase opportunities in developing tennis regions.
Ons Jabeur, right, suffered a second successive defeat in the Wimbledon women’s singles final
Jabeur’s rise has been a source of pride to the International Tennis Federation despite her loss
Contributors: Joe Bernstein and Aadam Patel
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