Trevor Francis ends 21-year spell with Sky to join rivals BT Sport... as double centurion Alastair Cook thanks Piers Morgan

  • Pundit Trevor Francis to leave Sky and join TV rivals BT Sport
  • Tony Pulis has annoyed the FA with comments on Jose Mourinho's fine 
  • Alastair Cook surprisingly thanked his rival Piers Morgan 

By Charles Sale for the Daily Mail

Published: 16:32 EST, 18 October 2015 | Updated: 16:32 EST, 18 October 2015

Trevor Francis, who has been a regular football pundit on Sky for two decades, is defecting to arch rival BT Sport.

Francis’s 21-year employment as an analyst and co-commentator since he was manager at Sheffield Wednesday, finished with West Brom’s home win over Sunderland on Saturday.

It is understood Francis’s pay-per-appearance hasn’t changed much since he started on Sky despite his high profile over the years — especially on their Monday Night Football show.

Trevor Francis has left his punditry role at Sky Sports and moved to arch rivals BT Sport

Trevor Francis has left his punditry role at Sky Sports and moved to arch rivals BT Sport

Francis, 61, was very well paid back then on £1,000 per show. But that figure is now put into perspective by the £4million-a-year deal that mediocre analyst Thierry Henry has with Sky.

Henry’s poor start as a pundit is all the more surprising as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is said to have spent more time talking tactics with Henry than any other player.

Francis was able to appear for the likes of Doha-based BeIn Sport while on Sky’s books, but joining BT signals the end of a long partnership.

Thierry Henry (centre) is paid £4million-a-year at Sky but has been criticised by some viewers 

Thierry Henry (centre) is paid £4million-a-year at Sky but has been criticised by some viewers 

 

FA chairman Greg Dyke told the FA council last week that he and vice-chairman David Gill had agreed that the only people they could really trust around UEFA and FIFA were each other. 

Meanwhile, Football League chairman Greg Clarke was an unlikely speaker at the council meeting in favour of the FA culling nearly 200 jobs to save £30million a year for coaching and facility priorities. 

However councillors, who went into the meeting concerned about those redundancies and the FA’s support for Michel Platini — now suspended — left Wembley worried about Dyke’s upcoming governance reforms that could further marginalise the blazers. .

FA chairman Greg Dyke (left) has come under fire due to his support of suspended UEFA chief Michel Platini

FA chairman Greg Dyke (left) has come under fire due to his support of suspended UEFA chief Michel Platini

 

Comments by West Brom manager Tony Pulis that Jose Mourinho’s £50,000 fine would be used to send ‘hundreds’ of people to Euro 2016 have caused annoyance at the FA, coming in the middle of the process that will see nearly 200 people lose their jobs. The FA contingent at the World Cup in Brazil numbered 88 at its height.

Tony Pulis has annoyed the FA after his comments regarding £50,000 fine handed to Jose Mourinho 

Tony Pulis has annoyed the FA after his comments regarding £50,000 fine handed to Jose Mourinho 

 

It may be coincidence. But Thailand’s Worawi Makudi and South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon, two of the delegates that Germany’s 2006 World Cup bid committee allegedly tried to bribe, have been suspended from football by the FIFA ethics committee in the past fortnight. The German FA deny cash-for-votes allegations made in Der Spiegel.

 

Cook thanks Piers

England captain Alastair Cook, double centurion in the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi , wrote a personal email to all members of England’s TwelfthMan supporters club thanking them for their fantastic support during the Ashes triumph last summer.

The most surprised recipient was arch critic Piers Morgan, who, as the exiled Kevin Pietersen’s cheerleader, had been relentless with his attacks on Cook.

Alastair Cook reacts after scoring 263 during the fourth day of first test match against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi

Alastair Cook reacts after scoring 263 during the fourth day of first test match against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi

 

It doesn’t say much for future transparency at FIFA that their own reform committee wouldn’t give any information following a three-day summit about the changes they will recommend to a FIFA executive committee meeting on Tuesday, at which the usual press conference afterwards has already been cancelled.

 

Human rights issues in Bahrain are the biggest obstacle in Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa’s bid for the FIFA presidency. The Sheik had to deal with the same serious accusations ahead of winning the Asian Football Confederation presidency in 2013 when he distanced himself from the worst of the Bahrain abuses.

Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa’s FIFA presidency bid under threat by human rights issues in Bahrain 

Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa’s FIFA presidency bid under threat by human rights issues in Bahrain 

 

Etihad Stadium staff laid on a sumptuous post-match spread in the Uruguay dressing room after their Rugby World Cup game against England. Manchester City were understandably upset when they found chicken in the showers, toilets and cupboards after the South Americans had departed.

 

England Rugby 2015 have had more success than anyone in dealing with the secondary ticket market without the help of Government legislation. They wrote to more than 1,000 people who listed tickets on profit-chasing websites and everyone contacted removed them from sale.

Uruguay left the Etihad Stadium changing rooms in a poor state following the game against England 

Uruguay left the Etihad Stadium changing rooms in a poor state following the game against England 

Comments (0)

Share what you think

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now