Stan Collymore turns the airwaves blue while watching Aston Villa from press box

Stan Collymore, talkSPORT lead football pundit who revels in laying down the law on the radio, astonished reporters with his behaviour during Aston Villa’s 3-3 Premier League draw with QPR on Tuesday night.

Collymore, despite sitting in the Villa Park press box where media impartiality is taken for granted, was jumping up and down during the game like the most fanatical Villa fan, celebrating the goals with the home supporters.

He even greeted QPR’s Joey Barton falling down to win a free-kick by clearly shouting at him: ‘You f****** rat.’

talkSport pundit Stan Collymore was in full fan mode as he celebrated Villa's 3-3 draw with QPR 

talkSport pundit Stan Collymore was in full fan mode as he celebrated Villa's 3-3 draw with QPR 

The former Villa striker let loose with his wild, and sometimes expletive laden, comments from the press box 

The former Villa striker let loose with his wild, and sometimes expletive laden, comments from the press box 

Villa fan Collymore believed such actions in the supposed neutral sanctuary of the press box were permissible as he wasn’t working for talkSPORT during the match. He tweeted: ‘With respect, on nights I go as a fan . . . I’m not being paid to do anything other than be a fan.’

And talkSPORT would not comment as they said Collymore wasn’t on duty, with reporter Nigel Pearson giving his rather more impartial verdict for the station. However Collymore did an interview with Adrian Durham and Darren Gough on talkSPORT before the match.

Collymore called Joey Barton a 'f*****g rat' after he fell down to win a free-kick for QPR during the game

Collymore called Joey Barton a 'f*****g rat' after he fell down to win a free-kick for QPR during the game

 

Jason Gillespie, Yorkshire’s highly-rated championship-winning coach also in charge of Big Bash team Adelaide Strikers, is hardly your archetypal red-meat-eating Aussie fast bowler. 

Gillespie, who would be first choice for England as well if Peter Moores fails in the West Indies, is preparing for new season by becoming a vegan. 

Meanwhile Lancashire’s supporters’ action group are questioning the value of having Sky Sports commentator Paul Allott on the club board after Peter Siddle, Lancashire’s overseas signing, was selected for Australia’s tours of the West Indies and England, ruling him out of any county involvement.

Yorkshire's championship winning coach Jason Gillespie is preparing for the season with a new diet

Yorkshire's championship winning coach Jason Gillespie is preparing for the season with a new diet

 

Bookmakers Paddy Power, rabid publicists guaranteed to offend, have a new stunt showing Ruby Walsh supposedly preparing for the Grand National by jumping his horse over a speeding car. 

The YouTube video is plainly mocked up but, with sensitivities around animal welfare, it was crass of Walsh, jump racing’s pre-eminent jockey after AP McCoy’s forthcoming retirement, to involve himself in such a provocative spoof — even if he is a Paddy Power ambassador.

Ruby Walsh and horse clear a car, claimed to be travelling at 40mph,  as part of the Grand National countdown

Ruby Walsh and horse clear a car, claimed to be travelling at 40mph, as part of the Grand National countdown

 

The split between FA chairman Greg Dyke and vice-chairman David Gill over homegrown players became very apparent during Wednesday's FA council meeting. 

After Dyke gave his well-received presentation, Manchester United director Gill, with his Premier League hat on, told council that Dyke should have said ‘I’ rather than ‘we’ as the issue had yet to be debated by the FA board. 

Gill wants the consultation period to be a proper process starting at board level — during which no doubt the Premier League will try to hijack it. So the big question is whether Dyke is willing to use the rulebook to force it through.

FA chairman Greg Dyke still faces a challenge to convince everyone over plans to change homegrown quota

FA chairman Greg Dyke still faces a challenge to convince everyone over plans to change homegrown quota

 

Gordon faces scrutiny 

Michael Gordon, American representative on daily Liverpool business for the club’s Fenway Sports Group owners, likes to operate well away from the media spotlight. 

However Boston Red Sox baseball shareholder Gordon might soon have to explain his major involvement in a number of signings that haven’t worked out as well as current contract stand-offs if Liverpool’s season were to further unravel. 

It’s understood Gordon’s high opinion of Liverpool’s pulling power and ability to keep players might have been swayed rather too much by their brief presence in the Champions League.

Michael Gordon may have to explain why several signings, such as Mario Balotelli, have not worked out

Michael Gordon may have to explain why several signings, such as Mario Balotelli, have not worked out

 

Channel 4 racing missing the start of an all-weather championship race at Lingfield last Friday because of an ad break could come back to haunt them. 

Arena Racing Company, the largest UK racing group are understood to have paid for the TV production costs as part of the Lingfield promotion that attracted a 9,000 crowd. 

Meanwhile ARC are looking to invite people supportive of their all-weather racing track at Newcastle for a celebratory launch when they receive the go-ahead for the plans discussed by the British Horseracing Authority board yesterday. However those in favour of the flat turf being dug up on the Newcastle mile are very hard to find.

 

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