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      Chelsea flop Kepa heading for loan transfer as Edouard Mendy completes Stamford Bridge move

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      CHELSEA are ready to send gaffe-prone Kepa out on loan – after landing Rennes keeper Edouard Mendy as their new first-choice.
      Stamford Bridge legend Petr Cech, who himself joined the Blues from the French club, was key in identifying the Senegalese 28-year-old as the new Chelsea gloveman.

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      Chelsea are ready to loan out flop goalie KepaCredit: Rex Features

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      The Blues completed a £22m deal for Edouard Mendy on ThursdayCredit: Chelsea FC

      And while Chelsea insisted no decision has yet been taken on Kepa’s future, it is understood that Frank Lampard will assent to the Spaniard leaving on loan before next month’s deadline.
      Kepa, 25, has struggled to live up to the world record £71m fee Chelsea paid Athletic Bilbao to land him as Thibaut Courtois’ replacement in 2018.
      He fell out of favour last term after a series of high-profile errors before the lockdown.
      And while the Spaniard regained his place at the outset of Project Restart, he lost it again to Willy Caballero for the FA Cup semi-final and Final.

      Chelsea spent much of the summer seeking to land Mendy and any chance of Arrizabalaga keeping his position as first choice evaporated with his performances in the club’s opening two Premier League games.
      He was badly at fault for Brighton’s goal in the 3-1 defeat at the Amex before a disastrous blunder gifted Sadio Mane Liverpool’s killer second in Sunday’s win at the Bridge.
      Mendy, who has signed a five-year deal, said: Mendy said: “I am so excited to be joining Chelsea.
      “It’s a dream for me to be a part of this exciting squad. I can’t wait to get started.”

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      Chelsea’s worst-ever flop XI includes Kepa and Bakayoko

      But Mendy’s arrival effectively spells curtains for Kepa, who has also lost the faith of many Blues fans.
      Chelsea will now listen to loan options for the Spaniard, in the hope that he can perform well without the pressure of playing for the Blues which appears to have dragged him down.
      The hope of the Chelsea hierarchy is that Arrizabalaga will be able to find his form and feet elsewhere, allowing them to look for a bigger price when the transfer market is back on a more even keel next summer.
      Ideally, Chelsea would be looking to recoup at least £40m of the keeper’s transfer fee but recognise that is simply not possible in the current market conditions.

      Chelsea confirm Edouard Mendy transfer from Rennes for £22m More

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      English football offered life-saving £250m loan by American pension fund with no Government bailout

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      ENGLISH football has now been offered a life-saving £250million loan by an AMERICAN pension fund.
      It comes after Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston yesterday announced there would be no Government bailout for our game.

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      English football has been offered a live-saving mega money loan from across the pond

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      EFL chairman Parry has laid bare the extent of trouble the lower leagues are in – but they could be saved by this £250m US loanCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      EFL chairman Rick Parry said clubs will need up to £250m to survive the pandemic-hit season without fans.

      Rotherham chief Tony Stewart warned: “A lot of clubs in League One and League Two — even the Championship — will go into administration if no money is forthcoming.”
      The US proposal would see Premier League sides pay the interest on the debt, which would be paid back over a number of years by EFL clubs.

      It was revealed by former top agent turned football finance expert Jon Smith. He said: “EFL teams have a financial hurricane that will blow their way by the end of the transfer window.
      “By November, there are probably ten clubs that won’t exist unless they get help. What I and a few people have proposed, is that the funds I represent are prepared to put in the £200m and some the EFL needs, with interest paid by the Premier League.
      ‘Not money-laundering funds’
      “They are American pension funds, proper people — not money-laundering funds.”
      Smith insisted future EFL TV income would pay back the capital sum.

      He told talkSPORT he had “entered discussions” with the Prem, although League sources suggested that there were no ongoing talks.
      Top-flight teams are reluctant to hand over bailout cash to the EFL without guarantees on how it would be spent.

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      And Prem clubs were hardened by what was described privately as the “unhelpful” intervention by Huddleston.
      He told MPs: “We will expect the top tiers of professional sport to look at ways it can support itself with the Government focusing on those most in need.”
      Clubs have accused the Government of ignoring their pleas for stronger efforts to get fans back inside grounds — after plans to begin a staged reopening from October 1 were placed on hold.
      One Prem chief said: “We have done a lot for the Government — but we don’t know what they have done for us.
      “We have come up with lots of great ideas on health, safety and testing and been ignored.”
      Huddleston admitted the ban on fans “will have economic consequences.”
      Rotherham chairman Stewart added: “The Government, Premier League and EFL need to realise the dire consequences.
      “They know the disaster that is waiting to happen — but still nothing is forthcoming.”

      Boris Johnson reveals new restrictions on sporting events More

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      Premier League clubs will threaten to pull out of Carabao Cup unless EFL players agree to testing for coronavirus

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      WORRIED Premier League clubs will threaten to pull out of the Carabao Cup unless EFL players agree to be tested for coronavirus.
      West Ham co-owner David Sullivan yesterday accused the EFL of not testing their players due to the financial implications — potentially exposing Prem teams to the disease.

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      West Ham’s game with Hull was hit with late news of positive Covid-19 tests before kick-offCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      A major outbreak of cases of top-flight stars could bring the Prem to another shuddering halt.
      So the top clubs are demanding all EFL clubs left in the competition go through Covid-19 testing before  playing next week’s fourth-round ties.
      Sullivan said: “Medically, why are we in a competition where we’re playing teams who have not been checked? The EFL are not testing their players for financial reasons.”

      Hammers boss David Moyes plus players Issa Diop and Josh Cullen were dramatically sent home just an hour before Tuesday’s 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Hull after testing positive for Covid-19.
      But Hull declined their offer to pay for their players to be tested, with manager Grant McCann insisting they were following EFL guidelines.
      Tottenham’s tie with Leyton Orient on Tuesday was called off after the majority of the League Two club’s squad tested positive, with Spurs paying for the screenings.
      Sullivan told talkSPORT:  “We and a few other Premier League clubs made the offer to give these teams a test at our expense so we weren’t exposing our players to untested players.

      “Unfortunately, Hull didn’t want it. Charlton the previous week did, for example.”

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      SunSport understands talks took place between Prem and EFL chiefs yesterday.
      Sullivan added: “We are now tested once a week. We were tested on Monday and the results came through at 6.30pm. The whole team now will be retested today.”
      Moyes, Diop and Cullen are now isolating for ten days.
      A round of testing costs about £5,000 per club.
      EFL clubs do not have to do coronavirus tests on players and staff this season.
      So Liverpool have paid for Lincoln to be tested before tonight’s third-round clash, while Bournemouth players were also tested ahead of their tie at Manchester City.
      But Orient chairman Nigel Travis admitted: “If I was doing this again I would not do the testing. This is an incentive not to test.”

      Tottenham vs Leyton Orient axed and Spurs declared winners of Carabao Cup tie after coronavirus rips through O’s squad More

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      Lincoln star Tom Hopper opens up on how filmed sex orgy with three Thai prostitutes in 2015 forced him to ‘mature’

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      TOM HOPPER learned a painful lesson from a night of stupidity in Thailand.
      Never take your career for granted.

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      Striker Tom Hopper says he had to ‘grow up quickly’ after national outrage over his filmed sex orgyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Tom Hopper was booted out of Leicester following the 2015 revelationsCredit: Getty – Contributor

      The Lincoln forward,  26, deeply regrets getting caught up in a filmed sex orgy in 2015.
      It also involved his then Leicester team-mates Adam Smith and James Pearson with three Thai prostitutes on an end-of-season tour.
      All three players were sent home in disgrace and sacked by the club.
      It sparked national outrage —  but since that night in a Bangkok hotel, Hopper has turned his career around.

      And tonight he will play in the biggest game of his life against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup third round.
      He admitted: “I had to grow up quickly. It was my first realisation of life and that your career can change for the worst in an instant.

      It was a case of keeping a low profile, being humble and focusing on football. The whole thing gave me a real perspective in life and I’ve matured as a result.

      “I owe a lot to Mark Robins and Scunthorpe as a club because they signed me and gave me a chance when maybe others wouldn’t.
      “I’m not going to kid anyone by saying it was easy to cope with the fallout of what happened.

      “It  definitely took time for me to get going again.
      “It was a case of keeping a low profile, being humble and focusing on football.
      “The whole thing gave me a real perspective in life and I’ve matured as a result.”
      Hopper, who was 21, has sympathy with Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, 18, and City’s Phil Foden, 20.

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      Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood also suffered a backlash, after sneaking two women into the England team hotel Credit: Reuters

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      Tom Hopper has bounced back well, including now with League One side Lincoln, who face Liverpool in the Carabao CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The pair were caught smuggling two Icelandic women into Eng­land’s team  hotel earlier this month.
      Hopper said: “The spotlight is on footballers. We are mad about the sport as a nation so it comes with the territory.
      “We must accept mistakes we make will be highlighted because we’re supposed to be role models.
      “They’re young and will learn from their errors. It’ll help them in the future.”
      Hopper is  widely respected for the way he has atoned.

      My advice to any young footballer is, ‘Don’t take football for granted’. Football is only getting harder with fewer chances because of the amount of foreign players who are over here.

      At Scunthorpe, Southend and now Lincoln, he has always passionately supported community projects.
      He was involved in making calls  to vulnerable members of  Lincoln’s community in lockdown  — and is popular among fans, players and club staff alike.
      One Southend source said: “He’s one of the nicest and most sincere men you’ll  meet.”
      Hopper also suffered the nightmare of rupturing his cruciate ligaments shortly after joining Southend in 2018 and was out for an entire year.
      And the striker,  who had scored seven  in his 14 games up to that point, said: “That was the other dark moment of my career.

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      Imps star Tom Hooper says he owes a lot to Scunthorpe for giving him a chanceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “I wasn’t sure if I was going to play again. Scoring in my first start after  one year, at Tranmere, was  the highest moment of my career.
      “My advice to any young footballer is, ‘Don’t take football for granted’.
      “Football is only getting harder with fewer chances now because of the amount of foreign players who are over here.”
      Facing the English champions at Sincil Bank will be  special,  but Hopper is gutted fans will not be there.

      He  was injured when Scunthorpe played Chelsea away in the FA Cup four years ago.
      Hopper added:  “Everything that comes with playing Liverpool is amazing.
      “It’s a chance you don’t get too often in your career and it’s great to just  soak it in.” 

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      West Ham boss David Moyes set to take Joe Wicks-style training sessions via Zoom after testing positive for coronavirus

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      DAVID MOYES is set to take West Ham training via Zoom from Covid-19 exile.
      The Irons boss must stay home for a further nine days after testing positive for coronavirus just before Monday’s Carabao Cup win over Hull.

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      Moyes is lined up to take his side’s training lessons via ZoomCredit: AFP or licensors

      But Moyes is feeling fit and well and is determined to continue working remotely from his East London flat.

      He plans to set up a Zoom video link with assistant Alan Irvine to oversee preparations for Sunday’s Premier League home match with Wolves.
      Irvine will lead the players out for training at the club’s Essex HQ but with Moyes maintaining a watchful eye and very much still in charge.

      West Ham insiders say Moyes is also planning to watch Sunday’s game on TV.
      He will also keep an open phone line to his backroom staff on the bench at the London Stadium.
      Moyes, 57, was shocked to learn he had tested positive for Covid-19 at 6.15pm on Monday having arrived at West Ham for the Carabao Cup tie.
      Players Josh Cullen and Issa Diop also tested positive.

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      The squad was tested at lunchtime on Monday but delays in receiving the results led to a last-minute reshuffle of the starting line-up.
      It is the second time West Ham’s manager has had to self-isolate after a brush with coronavirus.
      He was required to stay indoors in March after close contact with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta who subsequently contracted the disease.

      Adrian Durham says West Ham players Mark Noble and Jack Wilshere were wrong to comment on Grady Diangana’s sale More

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      Leicester 0 Arsenal 2: Fuchs own goal and Nketiah prove difference as Gunners set up potential Liverpool Carabao Cup tie

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      ONE major criticism of Arsene Wenger was that he wanted every Arsenal goal to be a breathtaking masterpiece.
      Well after Mikel Arteta’s men had won ugly in the Premier League against West Ham, they reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup by scoring two absolute munters here.

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      Christian Fuchs fumbled in an own goal just before the hour mark to give Arsenal the leadCredit: Reuters

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      Eddie Nketiah grabbed the second late on in comical fashion as he fell over while sticking past Danny WardCredit: Reuters

      Leicester’s veteran defender Christian Fuchs bundled into his own net and Eddie Nketiah added a late second after falling over, to earn Arsenal the dubious prize of a likely trip to Anfield – provided Liverpool defeat Lincoln City tomorrow.
      Arsenal already have to visit the champions in the league on Monday, so next week promises to be a major test of Arteta’s squad.
      Arteta’s Arsenal can still be easy on the eye – and even with seven changes to the Spaniard’s starting line-up, they outplayed a second-string Leicester.
      But they are now acquiring the knack of digging out victories when the going gets arduous.
      It is a happy habit which has been largely lacking ever since Wenger’s Invincibles broke up and it augurs well for their hard-nosed young manager.
      Arteta refused to include either of his outcasts, Mesut Ozil or Matteo Guendouzi, and saw some pleasing football from a youthful side.
      With two wins out of two in the Premier League and a Europa League campaign looming for both, this competition was the priority of neither manager.

      Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers, whose side reached the semi-finals last term, changed his entire starting line-up.

      He gave a full debut for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – a useful midfielder rather than a National Trust stately home.
      Arteta stuck with only four of the men who had squeezed past the Hammers on Saturday, yet there was no lack of attacking quality.
      Despite their dominance of the FA Cup, Arsenal haven’t won the League Cup for 27 years, when the competition was sponsored by Coca-Cola and nobody had heard of Wenger.
      But the Gunners, in their apparently blood-stained away kit, had the first sniff when Reiss Nelson won possession and cut in from the left only for Danny Ward to tip his rising shot onto the roof of the net.
      Bernd Leno had to be quick off his line to smother a Kelechi Iheanacho effort.
      But Arsenal were slick, fluid and lively in attack – Bukayo Saka skinned Marc Albrighton but Joe Willock could not connect with his cross.
      Then a stonewall penalty for Arsenal, which was somehow stonewalled by myopic ref Peter Bankes.
      Nketiah played in Saka, who was clearly bundled over by Daniel Amartey – leaving Arsenal’s team and bench to scream their appeals in vain.

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      Arsenal will face either Liverpool or Lincoln away in the fourth round next weekCredit: Reuters

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      Bukayo Saka was a threat as he bombed forwards and got into the Leicester boxCredit: PA:Press Association
      Nelson forced another save from Ward then screwed a shot wide when left unmarked from a corner.
      But the one class act in this Leicester side, James Maddison – making his first start since July 1 – began to make his mark.
      Having comprehensively skewered Ainsley Maitland-Niles with some saucy wing-play, Maddison cut in from the left and curled a delicious shot against the inside of the far post.
      But on 57 minutes Arsenal got the opener they had deserved with a huge dollop of fortune.
      Nicolas Pepe forced his way clear on the right, had one shot saved by Ward and then struck the post from the rebound, his effort cannoning in off the unsuspecting Fuchs as he and Amartey attempted to clear.
      Nketiah thought he had Arsenal’s second when he lobbed Ward, only for Wes Morgan to head expertly off the line.
      Foxes sub Ayoze Perez headed wide when he should have converted Albrighton’s free-kick.
      But after Hector Bellerin arrived as a late sub he teed up Nketiah, who stumbled, fell and still managed to score.
      It was no oil painting but you don’t win trophies for artistic impression in this game.

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      The Austrian was unfortunate as the ball bounced back of the post and rebounded into the netCredit: AFP or licensors

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      James Maddison came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when he struck the postCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Hamza Choudhury and Mohamed Elneny battle in the early stages at the King PowerCredit: PA:Press Association

      Arsenal announce new goalkeeper signing Alex Runarsson More

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      Soccer Saturday’s Jeff Stelling, 65, reveals botox is the secret to his youthful looks

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      SKY Sports’ Jeff Stelling has revealed the secret to his youthful looks — Botox.
      And he said he is not the broadcaster’s only presenter to do so.

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      The Sky Sports host, centre, pictured here in 2020, has revealed he bumps into colleagues when he is having botoxCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Jeff Stelling, pictured in 2010, says botox is the secret behind his youthful looksCredit: Solent News

      Jeff, who was 65 in March, visits a Harley Street clinic to get the cosmetic procedure, saying: “Admitting to Botox doesn’t concern me.
      “The hardest thing about the job has been growing old in public view.”
      Jeff who has fronted Soccer Saturday since 1998, added: “Every year, more grey hair, more inches on the waist, less good eyesight.
      “You fight it the best way you can — a touch of hair colour, one less beer, contact lenses and perhaps the odd Botox — but it is always going to be a losing contest.”

      Stelling pictured in 2012 at Gillette Soccer Saturday Live

      Jeff has fronted Soccer Saturday since 1998
      He went on: “On one occasion at the clinic, a woman — sunglasses on, collar up, hat pulled low, looking every inch an Eastern European spy — made a hasty exit.
      “A few moments later, her name was called. She was a Sky Sports News presenter, who didn’t want me to know she was getting a little help in the age war.”
      He visits “Botox King” Dr Nick Milojevic at his Milo Clinic in central London.
      Dad-of-three Stelling added in his new book I’ve Got Mail: “Dr Milojevic is the best.

      “He told me he gave Botox to one of the Made In Chelsea cast.

      “I’ve watched to try and work out which one, but it’s impossible. It’s a wrinkle-free programme.”
      Hopefully, his beauty treatment will help him to avoid the chop — as happened to former colleagues Matt Le Tissier, 51, Phil Thompson, 66, and Charlie Nicholas, 58.
      Jeff “did think about resigning” in sympathy, but added: “All three urged me not to do anything silly.”

      Stelling, who was 65 in March, visits a clinic to get the cosmetic procedure

      Jeff presenting Sky Sports back in 2001
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      Jeff Stelling confirms he could quit Soccer Saturday after Sky Sports sacked pals Le Tissier, Nicholas and Thompson More

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      Tottenham’s All or Nothing Amazon doc is all for the cameras and nothing like real life at a football club

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      SPURS’ All or Nothing TV show is the latest in a phenomenon of behind-closed-doors documentaries on football.
      First we had the sanitised, ra-ra series at Manchester City and then the Sunderland car crash of ’Til I Die.

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      Jose Mourinho starred in Tottenham’s Amazon documentary

      Now Tottenham are in the lights of the cameras. Ready for your close-up, Jose?
      But in this 24-hour, 360-degree world of football, do these documentaries really tell us anything we don’t know?
      The notion that these shows give us real insight is for the birds.
      You don’t see the real goings on in dressing rooms, with the Churchillian speeches given by so-called leaders of men — because half the time there’s bugger all going on in there.

      The Spurs doc is very stylised and appears to give the viewer a peek behind the scenes.
      But, in reality, it is heavily stage-managed with participants acutely aware cameras are on.
      The insight people want just isn’t there. Pulling back the curtain and peering behind is often like the scene out of The Wizard of Oz where a lot of loud noises are being artificially made by a small man.
      Yes, it is engaging to see an ever-effusive Danny Rose having a challenging conversation with Jose Mourinho, who delivers his oh-so measured response.

      What we got was a homogenised version for the cameras. Trust me, I’ve seen players demand to see a manager about not playing and it doesn’t play out that way.
      We do get a starry-eyed chairman, a Mike Bassett-esque assistant manager doing nothing but nodding — plus plenty of over-exaggerated industrial language (that part does have elements of reality).
      But how about seeing Mauricio Pochettino getting the boot? That’s real TV.
      Tottenham’s decline as a footballing force comes as they lean towards style over content off the pitch.
      I don’t like these documentaries as they promise the world, deliver very little and increasingly turn the business of football into the business of show.
      At Crystal Palace, I allowed a series to be filmed about the club’s academy — but was enraged by the outcome.
      There was more interest in Ian Wright driving his Ferrari into a training ground, a lifestyle that awaits young kids, rather than the blood, sweat, tears and often heartbreak that went with young players’ development.

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      Mauricio Pochettino was only in the first episode for 25 minutes after being sackedCredit: Amazon Prime

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      Amazon’s All or Nothing was not a reflection of real life at a football club, according to Simon JordanCredit: PA:Press Association
      If you are going to do a TV show, then have the balls to do it properly and give people a real look into the world of football.
      In my time at Palace, I could have shown them . . . 
      The conveyor belt of firing managers — including Peter Taylor, who was having his yearly review with the League Managers Association while I waited outside to sack him.
      Or, on his birthday, Trevor Francis being handed his P45 rather than a nice card.
      Watching Neil Ruddock unable to get into his shorts before a game. Or struggling with his emotions when hauled into my office and told: “Get inside your weight clause or get fired.”
      Visiting the boardroom you could have seen stand-up rows with Sam Hammam, throwing tea cups at Bristol City’s directors, being insulted by David Sullivan at Birmingham or handed a pendant by Liverpool’s chairman as a visiting smaller club.
      Tearing a strip off Tim Cahill’s agent, ejecting the divisive Leon Angel, agent of Andy Johnson, from our training ground or even banning the PFA from the same place.

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      Former Crystal Palace owner Simon JordanCredit: PA:Press Association

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      Jordan had run-ins with other execs such as Karren Brady and David SullivanCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The senior pro coming into my office brandishing last week’s copy of The Sun, giving him an eight out of ten for the second week in a row, as a reason why he was entitled to a massively increased contract.
      What about filming the general demeanour and disposition from players towards fans and their value, which would perhaps alter your desire to ever go and see another game?
      The piece de resistance would have been to film the clown’s college of meetings passing as Football League summits.
      Chief executives would plume their feathers, pontificate and decide very little — although one big success was getting Karren Brady to make a good cup of tea.
      No, you are not going to see that and neither should you.
      So let’s call this what it is — non-reality TV for the masses and file it under fiction.

      Watch Mourinho tell Sky Sports reporter to ‘f*** off’ after he says Tottenham boss is ‘past his best’ in All or Nothing More