The Sport Thread

Meanwhile, back in Scottish football territory, and Premier Sports has secured rights to both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/irish-broadcaster-net-rights-to-scottish-league-cup-football-matches-1.3703429%3fmode=amp

Seriously, one would almost *want* Leeds and Derby to be relegated unless their current owners are forced out...

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46282788

'Several unnamed clubs'
If you were listening to Today on Radio Four at 7.25 this morning, you'd have a very good hunch who they might be..

Derby
Leeds
Aston Villa
Stoke
Middlesbrough
Notts Forest.

Kick em out and throw away the key..!

They're all forgetting what happened back in 2001 too.

And all six have played in the Premier League - while Forest and Villa have also won what is now the Champions League.

The statement claims that nineteen clubs are against this deal. I wonder if the other thirteen include the likes of West Brom, Norwich, Blackburn, Bolton and Hull - all of whom have played in the Premier League fairly recently?

Also, if nineteen clubs are against the deal, then fifty-three are not - that's only one shy of a three-quarters majority...

To add some balance here. It’s probably that those clubs feel they’re are having to give away more than than a lot of the other clubs and they don’t feel they are being fairly compensated.

There is also the issue with the EFL tying then into a 5 year deal which means if the value of the Premier League goes up after three years the value of the EFL rights will be held back creating an even bigger gulf between the top two flights.

It's all well and good those clubs complaining, and also the value of the premier league going up after three years. But, my own thought is this; If you are selling a Ford Fiesta, you don't charge Ferrari prices. If you're seeking to buy a Ford Fiesta, you're not going to pay Ferrari prices.

THAT'S NOTTINGHAM (OR NOTT'M FOREST TO YOU)!!!

RTE have sublicensed a package of 14 Rugby World Cup games including Ireland’s games, the opener and all knockout stage games from eir Sport:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2018/1121/1012407-rte-acquire-live-tv-rights-to-irelands-world-cup-games/

That's brilliant news. It is very much an identical arrangement between Setanta & RTÉ for the 2011 RWC. 14 games in HD. Nice one.

Well then...
http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/121693-stv/

Who is tonight's presenter for the Ireland vs USA rugby match on Channel 4? Lee McKenzie is over in Abu Dhabi for the F1 GP.