SPORTS AGENDA: Man United may have to share Dan Ashworth, disgraced Labour candidate causes Burnley a headache… while Danny Drinkwater kicks off a row with his neighbours
It will be interesting to see if Manchester United give Dan Ashworth the same leeway he has at Newcastle if he arrives at Old Trafford from St James’ Park as expected.
The former FA director of elite development will join the Ineos revolution as sporting director in the coming days, although there will be a period of garden leave.
While in the North East, Ashworth was allowed to retain his position on the Warwickshire cricket audit committee.
The role is an honorable one and the club said the aim was to enable both organizations to share insights into coaching, recruitment and development.
Dan Ashworth is expected to leave Newcastle and join the Ineos revolution at Man United
Ashworth holds an honorary role on Warwickshire cricket’s audit committee in addition to his duties at Newcastle and it will be interesting to see if United allow him to retain this role.
Disgraced Labor candidate gives Burnley headaches
Although football clubs cannot choose who supports them, the X-story of the disgraced Labor candidate for the Rochdale by-election may have caused a headache at Turf Moor.
The Mail on Sunday revealed that Azhar Ali had claimed that Israel had allowed the October 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists as a pretext to invade Gaza.
Ali has since been suspended and his party’s support withdrawn ahead of next Thursday’s vote.
Burnley’s badge is the background and image of the politician’s X account, so every time Ali tweets the club crest is shown.
Disgraced Labor candidate for the Rochdale by-election Azhar Ali – who has been suspended by his party – has Burnley’s badge as his background and image from his X account
Man City to collaborate with Turkish giants
Manchester City has expanded its global reach after signing a ‘football cooperation agreement’ with İstanbul Basaksehir.
The club says City Football Group should provide advice focused on recruitment, academy development and data use, while ‘gaining knowledge and building relationships in Turkey, an ambitious football nation and developer of talent’.
Southgate is in line for Euro 2024
Media-friendly Gareth Southgate will once again host a Super Bowl-style meeting with the press before England head to the European Championship.
The relationship between the Three Lions and the media has improved dramatically under Southgate’s watch and reporters will be invited to St George’s Park in June where a series of interviews will take place.
England then flies to Germany from nearby Birmingham airport.
Gareth Southgate will host a Super Bowl-style meeting with the press ahead of Euro 2024
Saudi oil giant expands influence to CONCACAF
Eyebrows have been raised in the soccer world after CONCACAF, the governing body for North America, announced a multi-year – and undoubtedly lucrative – partnership with Aramco.
The Saudi oil giant will become the official energy partner for all CONCACAF national teams and club competitions.
Khalid Al Zamil, Aramco’s vice president of public affairs, said the deal would give Aramco “significant visibility.”
One thing not visible in the statement announcing the partnership was a reference to Aramco’s native Saudi Arabia.
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani approved the bidding process for the 2030 and 2034 World Cup – with Saudi now the sole bidder for the latter.
Culture Minister sends warning to Premier League and EFL
As the reshuffle row between the Premier League and the EFL continued, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer warned executives from both leagues to strike a deal before the arrival of the new independent regulator.
Frazer’s input was not entirely well received, according to sources, with clubs at various levels left ‘completely unimpressed’ and questioning whether the issue has now become politicized in the run-up to the general election.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer warned Premier League and EFL executives to agree on ongoing redistricting row before new independent regulator arrives
777 chief leaves his role
The chief financial officer of 777 Partners, whose takeover of Everton is yet to be approved by the Premier League, has resigned.
Damien Alfalla has been with the American investment group since 2017, which expects to hear by the end of the month whether they can buy Everton.
777 agreed to buy Farhad Moshiri’s stake in September and has loaned the club around £180 million to date.
Insiders say the departure was amicable and insist it will have no impact on 777 Football Group – the entity that manages the consortium’s clubs.
777 Partners Chief Financial Officer Damien Alfalla has resigned (photo – 777 Partners CEO Josh Wander)
Drinking water starts a fight with neighbors
Former Premier League winner Danny Drinkwater has fallen out with neighbors over plans to extend a Cheshire path.
The former Leicester City and Chelsea midfielder retired last year and bought a four-bed 1930s house.
He wants to turn it into a multi-storey, five-bedroom property, but angry Wilmslow residents say the plans are not in keeping with the area.
One claimed the extension would result in an ‘overbearing’ development that would be ‘completely inappropriate’ and ‘like a block of flats’.
Another said it was ‘oppressive’. Wilmslow Town Council also objected.
Former Premier League winner Danny Drinkwater has fallen out with neighbors over plans to extend a Cheshire path
French athletics team approaches British coach
After winning just a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest last year – ahead of their home Olympics in Paris – Agenda understands that France’s athletics team have adopted a ‘name-your-prize’ approach to Stephen Maguire.
He is the hugely respected coach of Team GB who was sacked from British Athletics after a record ten medals in a row in Budapest – including gold for Josh Kerr and Katarina Johnson-Thompson – over budgets.
Ticket sales for Wimbledon are causing problems
It’s not even March yet and the big ticket sales for Wimbledon seem to be underway.
Last week there was a vote for the members and several issues came up. When tickets went on sale, the queue was reportedly around 17 minutes, with one punter spending £470 on two ‘best available’ tickets (buying one isn’t an option) – only to find they were in queue Y.