Charles Sale - Sports Agenda

Last updated at 13:34 06 November 2006

BBC frustrated by managers' snubs

BBC Sport had already complained to the Premier League about top-flight managers refusing to co-operate with their flagship Match of the Day programme, even before the problem reached a new high on Saturday.

The Beeb's frustration at the way they are being treated grew at the weekend when the club representatives put forward to replace the silent managerial trio of Sir Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce were coaching assistants Carlos Queiroz, for Manchester United, Portsmouth's Joe Jordan and Bolton's Ricky Sbragia.

Redknapp and Allardyce are snubbing the BBC following the Panorama bung allegations and Ferguson hasn't spoken to the corporation on a football matter since another documentary in May 2004.

BBC Sport describe themselves as 'not particularly happy' with the situation, especially as they have just paid £171.6million to retain the highlights rights for three years but the Premier League seem incapable of bringing their managers into line.

Unlike the Champions League, where the TV contract insists that managers meet the media before and after games, the Premier League deal refers only to 'best endeavours'.

Ferguson's scandalous treatment of the media is accepted by the Premier League, who say he has 'drawn a line in the sand' with the Beeb, giving Allardyce and Redknapp a role model to follow.

Is Jimmy over the Hill?

How long can Sky Sports persevere with Jimmy Hill as the host of his Sunday Supplement football chat show? The 78-year-old is looking more out of touch by the week and has lost the plot on football issues to the extent that yesterday morning he was blaming the referees for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's serial gamesmanship.

Concern over Olympic clear up

Visitors to the Marshgate Lane trading estate on the Olympic Park site in Stratford will understand why Jack Lemley, chairman of the Olympic Development Authority, did his bunk back to America. More than 200 businesses — including one with 150 staff — have yet to agree deals to move before next July's compulsory purchase order deadline.

London 2012, however, give the impression that there are just a few lock-ups to clear out. Major contamination left behind by some of the Marshgate firms could also be a problem.

Grumbling Glazers

The glazer family's interest in football can be shown by their almost zero attendance record at Manchester United matches this season.

But the word from Florida is that they haven't been impressed with United's failure to fill all their corporate hospitality facilities since the Quadrant development of the ground.

Certainly, there are numerous boxes still for hire at United this season, including the new 16-people ones in the Quadrant that are without a buyer at more than £215,000 a season.

Arsenal risk Arab-Israeli conflict

There was serious concern at the Arab-owned Emirates airline earlier in the year that Arsenal were jeopardising their £100million stadium title contract by agreeing a perimeter advertising and hospitality deal with Israeli tourism.

The crisis was averted when Dubai's ruling Maktoum family took a relaxed view. However, Arsenal will risk controversy again on Wednesday when Israel tourism minister Isaac Herzog officially launches the advertising contract. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright will be the MC.