West Ham will focus on players with Premier League experience during the forthcoming transfer window in a bid to avoid mistakes of the past.
Following talks between chairman David Sullivan and manager David Moyes on Friday – at which the Scot’s future at the club was secured – agreement was reached to shift policy.
The Hammers are also set to appoint a director of sport ahead of the new campaign.
Questions had been raised over Moyes’s position but a late-season rally which saw the threat of relegation neatly swerved and the club’s first European trophy in 58 years put him in a strong position.
West Ham will focus on players with Premier League experience under David Moyes’ rebuild
Man City’s relationship with UEFA still prickly
It would appear that relations between Manchester City and UEFA remain a little prickly.
Ahead of the Champions League final, City decided to run the pre-match press conference themselves. It was the first time in history that a club, rather than UEFA, had taken control of the event aside from the two finals held under Covid restrictions.
In discussions, it was pointed out to UEFA that there is nothing in the regulations to stop a club taking control of the question-and-answer session.
Some wondered if it was because City, who won their legal battle over alleged financial breaches against the governing body, did not want journalists asking questions about the 115 Premier League charges.
Club insiders, however, say they always run the conferences and wanted to ensure that the members of the press who cover them every week got the opportunity to ask questions.
Manchester City controlled their press conference to ensure regulars got to ask questions
Shabby night for Inter and Man City fans
While there was no repeat of the shocking scenes that marred last year’s Champions League final – in which Liverpool fans were locked out and later attacked as they made their way back to Paris – there were a number of issues on a thoroughly shabby Saturday night for fans of Inter Milan and City.
With single lane roads to the stadium from Istanbul gridlocked some abandoned their buses and walked the last 40 minutes on foot in pitch black just to make kick-off, having left four hours before the game was due to start.
At fan zones supporters reported having to queue for 90 minutes for fries and then head to another queue for burgers while in the ground – where fans had been banned from bringing in water – some kiosks ran out of drinks.
Anthony Taylor was a guest at the Champions League final after being attacked by Roma fans
Taylor given vote of confidence
Anthony Taylor was at the Ataturk Stadium – as a guest of UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
In a huge vote of confidence the English official, subject of a despicable verbal assault by Jose Mourinho after overseeing a Europa League Final in which the Portuguese’s Roma lost to Sevilla on penalties, was in the VIP section for City’s treble triumph.
Taylor, who was attacked by Roma supporters as he tried to leave the airport following Mourinho’s outburst, may well have been on the pitch had an English side not made the showpiece fixture.
Anthony Taylor was subject of a despicable verbal assault by Jose Mourinho in the Europa League final
No issues with Kelly’s signature request
BT Sport bosses say they have no issues with presenter Des Kelly taking off a ‘captain’s armband’ and asking Manchester City skipper Ilkay Gundogan – whose future at the club is uncertain – to sign it during his post-match interview.
Kelly said he was getting stick online for the yellow band, a credential that granted him access to the pitch, and later tweeted he would be auctioning it online in aid of the Royal National College for the Blind.
It added to an at-times odd evening from the soon-to-be-merged broadcaster, with surprising addition Mario Balotelli refusing to comment when asked who would win.
It was certainly a contrast to Wednesday night, when – before Sullivan’s comment that he would depart – Jules Breach was quick to ask a celebrating Declan Rice whether he could see himself staying at West Ham following their victory in the Europa Conference League final.
A BT spokesperson said: ‘Des and the entire team did an outstanding job throughout the night.’
BT Sport defended Des Kelly after wild scenes where he asked for Ilkay Gundogan’s autograph
Days of Flower’s bootcamp long gone
There will be no broken ribs or spying missions for England ahead of the Ashes, which start on Friday.
Ahead of previous trips to Australia, then coach Andy Flower organised a bootcamp in Bavaria and a surveillance debacle in Staffordshire. In line with the more-relaxed Bazball, ahead of the home soil contest many players have spent the build-up playing golf in Loch Lomond, before reporting for duty in Birmingham on Monday.
Flower, meanwhile, will be in an Aussie tracksuit, having signed up to be a part-time consultant for the tourists.
The days of Andy Flower’s bootcamp for England players are long gone amid Bazball revamp
Wait for independent regulator
EFL clubs believe an independent football regulator will not get here for three years.
The government approved the watchdog’s introduction in April following its recommendation by a fan-led review in November.
The regulator will apply an enhanced owners and directors test, while financial distribution – including the all-important solidarity payments from the Premier League – are also to be looked at.
However, at their annual meeting near Chester, word was that the new arrival would not be in place for some time yet, although a ‘shadow regulator’ could operate in its absence.
Sky policy at odds with Ocean Rescue campaign
Sky’s policy for the women’s World Cup would appear to be at odds with its much-touted Ocean Rescue campaign.
The broadcaster often champions its efforts to go green and has banned staff from using disposable water bottle and coffee cups, along with plastic poppies.
However, it has taken the decision to send all nine of its representatives heading the 12,000 miles to Australia and New Zealand in business class, which is far from the most carbon-friendly option.
Studies have shown that those who turn left are responsible for 2.6 to 4.3 times more emissions than those in economy.
Sky’s policy is to offset travel and to also send those on long-haul jobs in business.
Tottenham Hotspur noticed the Ange Postecoglou effect down under after his appointment
Tottenham enjoying Postecoglou impact
Tottenham are already enjoying the positive impact of new manager Ange Postecoglou – without kicking a ball.
The North London side appointed the respected Celtic manager on Tuesday after he clinched the treble north of the border.
And while he was not even introduced to staff until Friday, the reaction in his native Australia was almost immediate.
Ticket sales for Spurs’s pre-season friendly against West Ham at Perth’s giant Optus Stadium on July 18 had been sluggish, but following news of Postecoglou’s arrival officials noted a rapid spike.
Fan zones at St James’ Park
Newcastle United’s new £25m-a-season shirt sponsors Sela, who have staged events including WWE and Formula E in their native Saudi Arabia, are set to bring that experience to Tyneside next season by developing fan zones around St James’ Park.
Further announcements are due in the coming weeks about plans to develop a side of the business which was neglected by previous owner Mike Ashley.
While some eyebrows have been raised over the deal given Sela are majority owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (which owns 80 per cent of the club), there are unlikely to be any issues with the Premier League.
Newcastle’s new sponsors Sela are planning to develop fan zones around St James’ Park
The sponsorship is a marked increase on Newcastle’s existing, £6.5m-a-yaer agreement with Chinese gambling outfit Fun88 but is arguably conservative compared to other English clubs in the Champions League, where they will compete for the first time in 20 years next season.
Johnson planning request
Glen Johnson has submitted plans for two extensions to his £6m mansion – including a cards room and cigar lounge.
The former England, Chelsea and Liverpool defender already has a treatment room, wine tasting area and plunge pool but now wants to step things up a level at his pad close to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground.
Officials at Elmbridge Council are set to make a decision in August and there have so-far been no objections from neighbours.
