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      in Boxing

      David Haye plans surprise career change after secret dates with Helen Flanagan

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      EX-boxer David Haye is planning a range of sun lotions — ­after accusing actress Helen Flanagan of reeking of fake tan.The former world champ, 43, has been linked to Helen, 33, who was his campmate in I’m A Celebrity in 2012.
      David Haye has big plans for branded merchandise including fake tanCredit: Getty
      We can reveal he has lodged papers with the UK’s Intellectual Property Office asking to ringfence the name “Haye” for ten years. He wants to sell cosmetics and toiletries including “sunscreens and suntan oils and creams”.
      Clothes, handbags and boxing gear will also be covered under the “Haye” banner, as well as sports and fitness classes.
      Haye previously said of the former Corrie star: “Helen is a real cute little chick, a bit ditzy, but she stinks of fake tan.”
      But last month it was revealed that the boxing champ had been enjoying ‘secret dates’ with the former soap star.
      READ MORE DAVID HAYE
      The pair became friends when they appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2012, but recently matched on dating app Raya and sparks have reportedly flown.
      Helen, 33, met up for dinner with former champion boxer David — who had been in a ‘throuple’ relationship with girlfriend Sian Osbourne and pop star Una Healy.
      But it is understood Helen and David, 43, went on dates alone.
      David and Helen Flanagan are believed to have enjoyed a string of datesCredit: Dan Charity – The Sun More

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      in Soccer

      Real FA Cup magic got TV snub.. bosses at the BBC and ITV should hang their heads in shame

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      TV bosses at the BBC and ITV should hang their heads in shame after snubbing the magic of our much-loved FA Cup.It is either through ignorance, arrogance or sheer incompetence — or all three — that they have scheduled some of the most dull and uninspiring collection of games ever seen in the third round.
      Maidstone boss George Elokobi and goal hero Sam Corne celebrates making FA Cup history by reaching the fourth round — but BBC and ITV snubbed televising them
      For me, this week every year is one of the most exciting in the football calendar.
      It is when the FA Cup really comes to life as the plumbers and builders or lower-league pros dine on the same table as the superstars.
      It is what makes this competition unique — not just here in the UK but across the globe.
      As a proud man of Kent, I simply could not miss going to watch little Maidstone United of the National League South host League One high-fliers Stevenage.
      Read More Football
      And the lowest-ranked team left in the competition caused the biggest shock and story of the round by producing a brilliant performance to stun Steve Evans’ men at their neat but small Gallagher Stadium.
      More than 1,000 joyous fans swamped the pitch at the end to celebrate one of the biggest achievement’s in the town’s 127-year football history. Yet the game was not picked by the dullards in the ivory towers of the Beeb and ITV.
      No, they believed the magic of the Cup lay on a Thursday night at Selhurst Park where Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace and Everton slogged out a goalless bore.
      And they felt the all-Premier League tie between Tottenham and Burnley would win the hearts of the nation on Friday night.
      Most read in FA Cup
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      Around 1,000 Maidstone fans swamp the pitch in joy after historic win
      Fans celebrated with the Maidstone team on the pitch after they beat Stevenage
      Aside from Pedro Porro’s stunning winner at the end for Spurs, the game was a snooze-fest.
      Sunderland v Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime was a fair enough selection with it being a North-East derby — but even that proved to be an underwhelming and boring mismatch as the Toon cruised to a 3-0 win.
      Middlesbrough hosting Aston Villa was a pretty tepid affair on Saturday evening, too.
      Arsenal taking on Liverpool yesterday was an all-Premier League heavyweight clash so, to be fair to the BBC execs, that one deserved to be on the box.
      And tonight ITV are screening Wigan v Manchester United, which is a decent tie.
      But let’s not pretend they made that decision because they love the idea of League One club Wigan creating more Cup magic to add to their stunning 2013 triumph when they won it.
      No, tonight’s game is only on screens because it’s Manchester United. Every single round they are still in the competition, we have to endure having Erik ten Hag’s team forced down our throats.
      I’ve nothing against anyone at United — but personally cannot wait for them to be knocked out each year because it’s so excruciating listening to all the hype that surrounds them.
      Not one match at the weekend featured a team below the Championship — and even the two games that did involve second-tier clubs, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, were up against top-flight sides.
      AGGREGATE CROWDS 2023-24THE number of people who have passed through the turnstiles in the top six tiers of English football so far this season.
      PREMIER LEAGUE: 7,483,909
      CHAMPIONSHIP: 6,928,003
      LEAGUE ONE: 2,854,803
      LEAGUE TWO: 1,790,684
      NATIONAL LEAGUE: 822,432
      NATIONAL SOUTH: 417,508
      NATIONAL NORTH: 371,385

      Our football culture is not based only in the golden bubble of the sanitised Premier League.
      In fact, most people who go to football matches week in, week out go to games OUTSIDE the top flight.
      I’ve done some number crunching. So far this season, according to my A-level maths knowledge at least, an aggregate of 7,483,909 have passed through the turnstiles to watch Premier League football this season.
      Yet a staggering 13,184,815 punters have passed through the gates to watch either the EFL or the top two divisions of non-league football — nearly SIX MILLION more than the top division.
      People who defend the TV execs say that even if they did select a non-league side against a pro team, like Maidstone v Stevenage, they cannot guarantee an upset.
      One person on social media argued to me that a few years ago non-league Marine took on Tottenham and who was still watching as the Premier League side went 5-0 up? Well, how many people — my Geordie friends aside — were still watching when Newcastle went 8-0 up at Sheffield United in the Premier League in September?
      And if you went by that logic Ronnie Radford’s stunner for Hereford that helped knock Newcastle out of the FA Cup in 1972 would never have been televised — and maybe the then 26-year-old commentator John Motson would not have gone on to have the great career he had.
      Of course, you cannot guarantee upsets in football — that is the whole beauty of it.
      TV execs decided that Crystal Palace v Everton was a ‘must-watch’ FA Cup tie that bored anyone unfortunate enough to watch it on Thursday
      When it does happen, like it did in Kent on Saturday, it makes it extra special.
      Thankfully, here at your favourite newspaper, we were at the Gallagher Stadium to capture it all — and will continue to champion ALL levels of our wonderful pyramid.
      As Wolves cult hero and Maidstone manager George Elokobi said on Saturday: “The magic of the FA Cup lives on.”
      Even if it doesn’t for those spoilsport TV execs who, quite frankly, have no clue about the heartbeat of our national game.
      By George, what a great bloke
      WHAT a guy George Elokobi is.
      After Maidstone’s stunning win on Saturday, the Wolves cult hero did not want to miss out a single person that has helped behind the scenes to make the club tick and set up one of the greatest days in their history.
      The emotional Stones boss said: “It’s not just one of the greatest days for me, my players, assistant Craig Fagan, goalkeeper coach Zach Foster-Crouch, backroom staff, the owners and director of football Bill Williams  — but everyone who works behind the scenes.
      “I’m talking about Ben and the media guys, John Gooch behind the scenes, Ian Tucker in the office, Helen, Bob, Helen Cooper who takes the photos, credit to all of them …. and I’m not forgetting Louise and Andy in the office. I’m trying not to forget anyone. We want to enjoy all these moments together.”
      Read more on The Sun
      Elokobi gets non-league football. He started and ended his playing career there. And as a manager he can go a long way — because he knows how to treat people. Everyone wants to work and play for him. It’s a huge asset to have.
      Oh, and he knows a thing or two about football. More

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      in Soccer

      Maidstone owner takes swipe at BBC and ITV as huge FA Cup giant-killing snubbed for TV coverage – and names dream tie

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      MAIDSTONE’S co-owner took a swipe at the BBC and ITV for snubbing their FA Cup giant-killing.And then he revealed who he wants to face next.
      George Elokobi and Sam Corne helped fire Maidstone into the FA Cup fourth roundCredit: Getty
      There were wonderful celebrations with Stones fans after the full-time whistleCredit: PA
      The National League South side were the lowest-ranked side in the third round of the famous competition.
      But TV bosses opted against selecting their clash against League One Stevenage to be broadcast live.
      That is despite showing eight of the 32 matches over the weekend – six on TV and a further two on BBC iPlayer and Red Button – with Wigan the only team not in the top two divisions to feature as they host Manchester United on Monday.
      As well as fans around the country being able to watch those matches live, the 12 teams picked also received £85,000 on top of their FA Cup prize money.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      However, sixth-tier Maidstone were inexplicably overlooked.
      And it proved to be a blunder by the BBC and ITV as George Elokobi’s side produced a shock result at the Gallagher Stadium – with just three main cameras around the 792-seater ground.
      Sam Corne converted a penalty just before half-time – and that proved to be the only goal of the game.
      There was a jubilant pitch invasion when Maidstone secured the victory.
      Most read in Football
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      But the Stones’ co-owner Oliver Ash hit out at the broadcasters for overlooking the story of the weekend, which was the opening tie on Match of the Day.
      He told the Express: “Most people are amazed the cameras are not here.
      “I get that more people support Everton and Crystal Palace so the TV companies think they will get more viewers than Maidstone.
      “But it is a shame because the competition is all about games like ours – the lowest-ranked club in the competition against a side that could well be in the Championship next year.
      “It would have been wonderful TV. It is all about the magic of the FA Cup – it is so wonderful for the spirit of the club, the community and the town.
      “Definitely this is the biggest result in the club’s history. We are not going to win it, but more and more the FA Cup is something magic for clubs like ours.
      Credit: X
      “It may have lost its magic for the top clubs but it has gained its magic for us.”
      Maidstone’s social media team echoed their chief’s views with a brilliant tweet.
      They reshared the FA Cup’s tweet announcing the TV picks and replied: “Aged well,” with a sarcastic thumbs-up emoji.
      The Stones will be one of the standout numbers when the fourth-round draw takes place and will surely be on TV when that fixture takes place on the last weekend of January.
      And Ash knows exactly who he wants to face next.
      He added: “I want a home tie.
      Read more on The Sun
      “Having seen what it means to people to come and watch a big game here, it would be magic – even compared to a trip to one of the big clubs.
      “So let’s get Manchester City down to the Gallagher!”
      Corne scored a penalty just before half-timeCredit: PA
      Co-owner Oliver Ash wants Manchester City at home in round fourCredit: Reuters More

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      in Soccer

      Who is football pundit Eni Aluko?

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      ENI ALUKO has become a successful TV pundit since retiring from women’s professional football.The star hung up her boots in January 2020 after playing a whopping 102 times for England between 2004 and 2016.
      Eni Aluko is a TV pundit and former professional player

      Who is Eni Aluko?
      Eni Aluko MBE is a football broadcaster and former professional player.
      She was born on February 21, 1987, in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Birmingham, England, with her family when she was six months old.
      Aluko played many sports as a child, including tennis, but found a love for football after playing with her brother, Sone Aluko, who also went on to become a professional footballer.
      As of 2024, Sone is signed by Ipswich Town but he has also played for Reading and Fulham in the past.
      Eni started her own football career with Leafield Athletic Ladies and went on to play for several big teams.
      Aluko has also had an impressive international career, representing England at three World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015) and two European Championships (2009 and 2013), as well as playing for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.
      In January 2020 Eni was named as the Sporting Director for Angel City FC, a team based in Los Angeles.
      She became the Director of Recruitment for the team in August 2022 but officially left the role in 2023.
      Who has Eni Aluko played for?
      Aluko had an illustrious career as a professional footballer before her retirement in 2020.
      The full list of teams that she represented can be seen below:

      2001-2004 – Birmingham City
      2004-2007 – Charlton Athletic
      2007-2009 – Chelsea
      2009-2010 – Saint Louis Athletica
      2010 – Atlanta Beat
      2011 – Sky Blue FC
      2012 – Birmingham City
      2012-2018 – Chelsea
      2018-2019 – Juventus

      Has she been a pundit before?

      Aluko is a successful and popular pundit, and made history when she became the first female pundit on Match of the Day in 2014.
      She continued punditry alongside her football career during the television coverage of the 2016 Euros, the women’s Euros in 2017, the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Women’s World Cup.
      Aluko was part of Amazon Prime’s pundit team for their coverage of the 2020/21 Premier League season.
      She also appeared on ITV’s coverage of the Euro 2020 tournament and is a regular face on the channel’s football coverage.
      What was the controversy surrounding her and Mark Sampson?
      In August 2017, Aluko accused the then-England manager Mark Sampson of “racist” comments
      Sampson was found by independent barrister Katherine Newton to have made “ill-judged attempts at humour, which, as a matter of law, were discriminatory on the grounds of race.”
      Newton added: “It was fundamentally important to emphasise that I have not concluded that MS is a racist.”
      It was alleged that Sampson had told Aluko to make sure her Nigerian relatives did not bring Ebola to Wembley and he also asked Drew Spence how many times she had been arrested.
      The FA was forced to issue an apology after it was found that they had known about the comments since 2016 and had cleared Sampson of any wrongdoing.
      Sampson later apologised, saying: “When players made complaints, they needed to be handled with the respect they deserved.”
      Most read in Euro 2024
      What did Joey Barton say about Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko?
      Joey Barton came under fire after he made comments about Aluko and another pundit, Lucy Ward, as part of a sexist tirade.
      The former Manchester City and Newcastle star called the stars “the Fred and Rose West of football”, referring to two of Britain’s worst serial killers.
      Over two decades, Fred and Rose West abducted, tortured, raped and murdered numerous young women.
      Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Barton posted in January 2024: “How is she even talking about Men’s football. She can’t even kick a ball properly.
      “Your coverage of the game EFC last night, took it to a new low.
      “Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, the Fred and Rose West of football commentary.”
      Celebrities like Piers Morgan,  Laura Woods and Bianca Westwood were quick to call out the comments on social media.
      Read more on The Sun
      ITV Sport also addressed Barton, saying in a statement: “For Joey Barton, an ex-professional player with a significant social media presence, to target two of our pundits, Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, with such vindictive remarks based on gender and to involve the names of serial killers in doing so is clearly contemptible and shameful on his part.
      “Football is for everyone.” More

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      in Soccer

      Joey Barton slammed for calling pundits Eni Aluko & Lucy Ward ‘the Fred and Rose West of football’ in sexist tirade

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      ITV has lashed out at former footballer Joey Barton after he likened two female commentators to serial killers.The former Manchester City and Newcastle star has been slammed in recent weeks for launching sexist tirades against female pundits – who he claims “aren’t qualified” to talk about men’s football.
      ITV Sport have slammed Joey BartonCredit: PA
      He took aim at Former England player Eni AlukoCredit: AFP or licensors
      Barton likened her and Lucy Ward to serial killersCredit: Getty
      Fred with warped wife Rose, who was jailed for life for killing 10 girls
      This morning Barton, 41, took aim at pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, who he called “the Fred and Rose West of football”
      Fred and Rose West were two of Britain’s worst serial killers.
      The pair abducted, tortured, raped and murdered numerous young women over 20 years.
      Speaking about Aluko, Barton tweeted: “How is she even talking about Men’s football. She can’t even kick a ball properly.
      MORE ON BARTON
      “Your coverage of the game EFC last night, took it to a new low.
      “Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, the Fred and Rose West of football commentary.”
      Barton has already been called out on social media by the likes of Laura Woods, Bianca Westwood and Piers Morgan as well as thousands of fans.
      And today ITV Sport hit back at the ex-pro.
      Most read in Football
      A spokesperson said: “For Joey Barton, an ex-professional player with a significant social media presence, to target two of our pundits, Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, with such vindictive remarks based on gender and to invole the names of serial killers in doing so is clearly contemptible and shameful on his part.
      “Football is for everyone.”
      It comes after Alex Scott was hailed as “total class” when she hit back at his sexist comments.
      Scott, 39 – who had said she “doesn’t want to give Joey Barton oxygen” – has now taken aim with a passionate message on live TV.
      The former Lioness and Arsenal star said during the BBC’s coverage of the WSL on Sunday: “To all of the women in football,
      “In front of the camera and behind it, to the players and everyone that attends games.
      “Keep being the role models that you continue to be to all those young girls that are told no you can’t.
      “Football is a better place with us all in it.”
      Read more on The Sun
      Barton is one of football’s most controversial characters, and served time in prison in 2008 for assault.
      His views also saw him appear on Piers Morga Uncensored. More

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      in Soccer

      Fans admit they’re ‘tuning in just for her’ as Laura Woods wows again on ITV for Crystal Palace vs Everton

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      FANS have admitted that they are only tuning into the FA Cup in order to watch Laura Woods.Everton and Crystal Palace faced off in their 3rd round tie in the competition at Selhurst Park.
      Laura Woods presented ITV’s FA Cup coverageCredit: ITV
      Fans hailed her on social mediaCredit: ITV
      The match was televised live on ITV 4 and consisted of a panel of Eni Aluko, Jobi McAnuff and Laura Woods.
      While the match failed to spark much excitement in the first half fans were relieved to see Woods on their screens.
      The presenter wowed viewers in a smart black and grey outfit as she hosted the show.
      Fans flocked to social media to hail Woods, 36, as the only reason they were watching the coverage.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      One fan pined: “Laura Woods is 1 of 1. Tuned in 30 minutes before the game just for her.”
      A second wrote: “Thank god for Laura Woods.”
      A third commented: “Nothing wrong with Laura Woods. Excellent broadcaster.”
      A fourth said: “Being a simp for Laura Woods.”
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      She was joined on the show by Eni Aluko and Jobi McAnuffCredit: ITV
      Another added: “Laura Woods can do what she wants.”
      Recently, Woods shared a glimpse into her wholesome family Christmas with partner Adam Collard.
      She also wowed fans as they tuned into watch Anthony Joshua beat Otto Wallin.

      Inside Laura Woods’ glamorous life as football, boxing and NFL presenter…
      Laura is the face of TNT Sports’ Champions League coverage
      Laura regularly hosts DAZN’s boxing coverage as wellCredit: Instagram @laurawoodsy
      She has gathered a huge social media following in recent yearsCredit: Instagram @laurawoodsy
      Laura presented coverage of Anthony Joshua’s bout with Jermaine FranklinCredit: Rex
      She has become TNT Sports’ main Champions League anchor this seasonCredit: Getty
      Laura also likes to let her hair down when not workingCredit: Instagram @laurawoodsy
      Laura is dating former Love Island star Adam CollardCredit: Instagram
      She also works for ITV on their coverage of the NFLCredit: Instagram
      She loves a day at the races during the summerCredit: Instagram @laurawoodsy
      Laura has an enviable lifestyle and fans regularly go wild for her outfitsCredit: Instagram @laurawoodsy More

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      How Arsenal legend Ian Wright went from untouchable pundit frozen out by BBC and ITV to one of the nation’s favourites

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      IAN WRIGHT has opened up on why he was snubbed for years by the BBC and ITV before making his comeback in 2015. The much-loved pundit quit Match of the Day 15 years ago after falling out with TV bosses.
      Ian Wright made his Match of the Day debut when he was still a playerCredit: TWITTER/IAN WRIGHT
      The Arsenal legend became a regular again on MOTD in 2015Credit: BBC
      But it came after he was axed in 2008 after a disagreement with TV bosses that lasted yearsCredit: Getty
      Wright is again set to step back from screens at the end of this season – but now on far better terms.
      The former England striker announced he is leaving MOTD”to do a few more different things with my Saturdays.”
      Wright made his debut on the iconic highlights show in 1997, while he was still playing in the Premier League with Arsenal at the time.
      After retiring three years later, he began working as a regular pundit in 2002.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      He lasted on Match of the Day for six years before being axed and frozen out by the BBC following a dispute with chiefs.
      The Gunners and Crystal Palace legend was unhappy as he thought he was only being used for comedy purposes to stop tensions arising between fellow pundits.
      Wright said at the time: “I feel like I am just there as a comedy jester to break the ice with Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen, who just do run-of-the-mill things.
      “I can’t do that any more. People want something different.”
      Most read in Football
      Ian Wright making his first Match of the Day appearance with Des Lynam and Trevor Brooking
      Wright has become a much-loved part of the showCredit: BBC
      Wright has now lifted the lid on his 2008 departure from the BBC as he spoke to his Wrighty’s House podcast.
      He said: “There was a time I wasn’t on the BBC for about nine years, they weren’t happy with a column I’d done about punditry and where it should be going, how it feels a bit sterile.
      “And the fact that I said I feel like I’m on the end and I’m being like a court jester, I come in for the light comic relief.
      “I said I’ve got more to offer.
      “I remember being off the BBC for about nine years and I couldn’t get nothing at ITV because the guy that got rid of me on the BBC went to ITV.
      “It’s funny because the guy I’m talking about Niall Sloan, he is like in the television world a father to me in terms of how he explains things to me, how he wants me to be.
      “We’re very tight now. But I couldn’t get on any television.”
      Desperate to continue his role in the media, the 1998 Premier League winner with Arsenal embarked on a career in radio and it ended up being the start of his comeback journey to tele.
      It led to him getting the job as host of a documentary about Laurie Cunningham, who was a pioneer for black footballers.
      Wright explained: “This is where Absolute Radio came in and everyone down there almost saved me, made me fall back in love with doing it.
      “To get back onside with Sloan from ITV, he wanted to do a documentary about Cunningham and the people doing it said: ‘We can’t do a documentary without me speaking about Cunningham.’
      “And so Sloan was like: ‘Okay he’ll do it, but he’ll do it if you give him a game again, let him get back on the TV.’
      “So I done it, it done really well and they gave me a game.
      “They gave me Chelsea against Brentford in the FA Cup and I was very fortunate because I was on with Martin Allen, who was somewhere else in space while he was on TV.
      “Everything he was saying I was able to counter-attack it and say, ‘well that’s not right because of this.’
      “I remember David Luiz really dived into somebody and I remember digging him out for that and then after that people were writing in saying: ‘Where’s he been? Why isn’t he on then?’
      “And it just turned on its head, I was back.
      “What it made me realise is you’ve got to put the work in.”
      Wright ended up landing a more permanent role on MOTD in 2015 after helping to convince BBC chiefs while doing international fixtures on ITV.
      Leaving once again is a tough decision – but Wright believes he has made the right one, explaining: “The time’s come for it I think.
      “I don’t want to go too deep into what it means to me but the music, every time I hear the music, it takes me back to an unbelievable place when I first remembered what Match of the Day meant to me.
      “Then to get myself into a position where I was able to be good enough to be on Match of the Day and then be a regular, it was more than I thought it was going to be.
      “When I first went on, not very rehearsed in what I was going to say or what I was going to be, I was winging it and I remember Des Lynam, when he welcomed me on to the show, I said to him ‘this is my Graceland’.
      “Match of the Day was my Graceland.
      “When I first got the call for it, it does hit hard. You are nervous, because some people still don’t realise, It’s live.
      “People still say ‘it’s live?’ Yeah. Obviously the games are highlights because we’re putting all the stuff on it.
      Read more on The Sun
      “But while we’re sitting there, we’re live. It’s a live show.”
      Wright says he is “really looking forward to my last months” on the show and is hopeful his time on MOTD will end with his beloved Arsenal winning the Premier League title.
      Ian Wright and son Shaun Wright-Phillips did punditry together last seasonCredit: BBC
      Ian Wright has also worked for ITV following his axe from teleCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League’s four-year £6.7billion TV deal is testimony to the world’s greatest game

      by

      THE Premier League’s four-year £6.7billion TV deal is testimony to the world’s greatest game.Sky and TNT have already proved that they can provide football programmes of the highest quality, with no expense spared.
      The Premier League has signed a four-year TV deal worth £6.7bnCredit: Reuters
      Although BBC and ITV produce very watchable programmes, they don’t have the reserves to challenge the contract winners for the four seasons starting from 2025-26.
      Yes, it is a lot of money, too. And a good slice of that will find its way through the football pyramid, as well as to many good causes.
      There will be grumbles about the amount, of course there will.Mostly from those who are green with envy.
      I suspect they are not jealous of what we have but more of what they can’t have.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      But those moans won’t come from the EFL as they are expecting to have a share of the money by tapping into the goodwill of the Premier League, this despite the fact that most will never play in the Prem — or contribute to it.
      But there’s no doubt that all the EFL’s interlocked divisions are very important to our game, not even mega-rich sheikhs or US billionaires are altogether ignorant of this — although it might be regarded as well below the status of a fourth wife or a racecourse stable.
      I suspect a shortly-to-be-appointed football regulator will be anxious to make a mark on the divvy-out of television earnings, otherwise known as a tax.
      To do this though, they will need some very ­specific primary legislation to take away a ­commercial organisation’s cash to give it to a competitor, otherwise known as nationalisation.
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      The regulator may cough and splutter all it likes but it has got to be aware that over-interference by such Government appointments has dangers in a similar way that welcomes to VAR have turned to hatred of delays and ridiculous rulings by people who think they see better but don’t.
      The new deal will help withstand the sweet talk of those barons of foreign clubs who, well aware of the success of the Premier League, tried and went much too close to forming a closed European Super League with six of our best.
      Some on the Continent still dream of potential supremacy, rather in the way of a fascist or communist government in waiting.
      The Premier League steams ahead, a massively successful organisation whose enterprise shames too many others in this country.
      No wonder that big businessmen want to butt in — Americans, Chinese, Arab States, even one or two Englishmen.
      And the world watches, too. The league has the biggest viewing figures of them all, and a number of different TV contracts abroad.
      Have no doubts, Fifa and Uefa see it as serious competition, which is why they simply love the idea of a UK regulator as they hope that will make the Prem less investable, less competitive and less agile.
      Let’s hope they are wrong.
      The Premier League is multi-nationalCredit: Getty
      English football has been dragged into multi-national eminence in the 30 years since the PL was founded.
      Dozens of countries are represented in teams to the extent that when, for instance, two South Koreans feature among the leading scorers — Son Heung-min of Tottenham and Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan —  no one here makes a point of it.
      It happens, full stop, new paragraph.
      Our clubs will stay top of the world’s watch list and continue to be a major industry, currently employing 94,000 people. That must not make the league a cash cow.
      Indeed, I have one or two reservations, in particular, that the increase from our current agreement is under the rate of inflation — and with 13 or 14 Premier League clubs all making a loss at the moment, I apologise if we are a  little slow in cracking open the champagne.
      This should be underlined by the fact that, quite simply, players’ contracts seem to be increasing at the same rate of inflation in Venezuela, some 360 per cent!
      Which is why the net debt of Prem clubs amounts to £2.67bn.Dust-dry information perhaps, but a worry in boardrooms.
      Still, as Hammers vice-chairman, I am proud that the league contributes £7.6bn to the wider UK economy.
      Read more on The Sun
      And volumes to audiences everywhere.
      It has to be one of the UK greatest exports — let’s hope it stays that way. More