sport news SPORTS AGENDA: Southgate hits the bullseye as he seeks to maintain relationship ... trends now
Gareth Southgate is keen to maintain the relationship between his squad and the press that served him so well at the last World Cup in Russia. The Football Association is organising another media centre in Doha which mirrors the one provided at England’s base in 2018.
FA staff are also conscious boredom might become an issue with reporters, due to the restrictions on socialising in the deeply religious country. The media centre in Qatar will be situated within a short walking distance of the team’s training base and will include a pool table, basketball hoop, air hockey machine, soft seating and dart board.
England’s stars will be encouraged to spend time in the facility and mingle with the press. There is also expected to be another daily darts challenge involving a nominated player and media representative, which has become a tradition under Southgate. In 2018, former Sports Agenda columnist Charlie Sale took part in the first encounter, losing to Gary Cahill.
Gareth Southgate is keen to maintain the relationship between his squad and the press
STIRLING TENNIS ACADEMY CLOSED AFTER JUST THREE YEARS
The decision to build a national tennis academy in sunny Stirling was ludicrous at the time and even more so now, given that it has closed after just three years.
However, the man responsible for it will be well clear of any fallout. Simon Timson, whose brainchild it was, is now performance director at Manchester City, having left the same role at the Lawn Tennis Association in 2020. Just one Scot was involved in the programme, which it was hoped would ‘provide a pathway to champions’. The reality was the only pathway was to champions of the Premier League, rather than Wimbledon.
COUNTIES REMOVING PAY-ON-THE-DAY OPTION
A growing number of counties are making the mind-boggling decision to get rid of pay-on-the-day facilities at grounds.
They want punters to buy their tickets online - and provide their personal details. Nottinghamshire had to write to supporters ahead of last week’s fixture with Middlesex at Lord’s to tell them they would have to book tickets in advance on the website should they wish to attend.
Given the age of many of the clientele, this may not be the smartest of moves from those often accused of being experts in shooting themselves in the foot.
REPORTERS THREATENED IN MIAMI
Enterprising reporters covering the Miami Grand Prix were threatened with arrest and expulsion when some were spotted entering ‘restricted areas of local highways’ - namely turnpike ramps above turns 15 and 16 - to get a better look.
A frosty note was placed in media areas warning their actions were ‘illegal under Florida State Law’ and ‘subject to criminal penalties’.
FAILIURES REMOVED FROM BARNSLEY BOARD
What is the opposite of the golden touch? Barnsley’s part-owners - the American businessman Paul Conway and Chinese entrepreneur Chien Lee - were unceremoniously booted off the board at Oakwell last week amid a backdrop of failure in their stable of clubs across Europe.
The Tykes sank without trace from the Championship while Nancy-Lorraine dropped out of
