Source: Daily_Mail
CHARLES SALE: Carlo Ancelotti finds it's not so good to talk
Chelsea's troubled season off the pitch has continued with manager Carlo Ancelotti being caught talking on his mobile while driving.[LNB]Ancelotti was pulled over near his home and Chelsea's training ground in Cobham, Surrey, while out in his Mercedes.[LNB] Speaking out of turn: Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is in trouble for using his mobile phone while driving[LNB] He reported to Esher police the next day with his insurance documents, which he didn't have with him when stopped. [LNB]The Chelsea boss, who paid the fine without complaint, was understood to be somewhat bemused by the offence as there is no such law in his native Italy.[LNB]However, it didn't stop Ancelotti charming Chelsea fans at the station by posing for pictures and signing autographs. [LNB]Although Ancelotti's misdemeanour will hardly engender the widespread furore that followed the infidelities of John Terry and Ashley Cole, it will still be an embarrassment for the manager to be on the wrong side of the law given owner Roman Abramovich's demand that the club improves its image.[LNB] Wembley, who made former head groundsman Steve Welch the scapegoat for their chronic pitch problems, revealed at their crisis meeting on Monday they are now considering going back to the head groundsman format after a year of the bizarre stewardship of the surface by a team of consultants from the Sports Turf Research Institute led by Tony Stones. [LNB]And at last Wembley boss Roger Maslin and his director of facilities Greg Gillan are taking some responsibility for the mismanagement that has gone on throughout the pitch fiasco.[LNB] The celebrity factor interfered with Channel 4's coverage of Newbury races last Saturday after Hayley Turner won the feature Spring Cup on 40-1 shot Brunston. Emma Spencer, who had been interviewing the winning connections of previous races, was replaced by Mike Cattermole for the chat with Turner, whose fling with Spencer's estranged husband, top jockey Jamie, was one of the reasons for the marriage break-up. A Channel 4 spokesperson said: 'Emma preferred not to interview Hayley Turner in the interests of both parties and to ensure there were no unnecessary tensions.'[LNB] Lynne Frank, managing director of ESPN in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will leave her job later in the year after a transition period to return to southern California for family reasons unrelated to her work. ESPN will start an immediate search for her successor, who will need combative talents to take on Sky in the pay-TV jungle.[LNB] Axed Rider set to sueSteve Rider , ruthlessly replaced yesterday by Adrian Chiles as the football face of ITV, is understood to be considering legal action. [LNB]Rider, who joined ITV in 2005, seems to have a strong case as it is believed his £500,000-a-year contract states that he will be the No 1 football presenter for ITV at the World Cup. Now he won't be going to South Africa and the £1m-a-year Chiles will front the tournament coverage as well as their England, Champions League and FA Cup games. [LNB]Chiles's appointment looks to have been instigated by ITV boss Peter Fincham, especially as controller of sport Niall Sloane never used Chiles for live-match presentation when head of football at the BBC. ITV say both Fincham and Sloane wanted Chiles on board and they are discussing a new contract with Rider. [LNB]However, the treatment of Rider, who is 60 this month, is similar to the experience of Jim Rosenthal, who was also dramatically downgraded on reaching 60.[LNB] There is some annoyance among Premier League referees about their boss Mike Riley's decision that they cannot attend a big charity bash being organised by colleague Mark Halsey in aid of the cancer unit at The Christie Hospital in Manchester where he and wife Michelle were treated. The function at Lancashire's Old Trafford cricket ground is on May 7, two days before the last round of Barclays Premier League fixtures, and Riley does not want his referees wining and dining 48 hours before they're on duty.[LNB] More from Charles Sale... Charles Sale: Labour and Tories wishing on a tsar07/04/10 Charles Sale: New Football League chief Clarke risks renewing Izzet row06/04/10 Charles Sale: Hull and Wigan to face pitches battle05/04/10 Charles Sale: Watmore exit gets the pro treatment04/04/10 Charles Sale: BOA want cash to call 2012 Games park 'Olympic'01/04/10 CHARLES SALE: New Ivory Coast boss Sven Goran Eriksson 'to help plug' London's Olympic stadium31/03/10 CHARLES SALE: TV trumps fears of Cardiff v Swansea derby violence30/03/10 Charles Sale: Paul Nicholls in clear on sale 'kickback' 29/03/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE [LNB]
