Source: Daily_Mail
CHARLES SALE: David Beckham's brand goes on the road
England's icon footballer David Beckham is closing down his popularGreenwich academy in London in a planned change of strategic approachto his long-term coaching of kids around the globe.[LNB]On the road: Beckham celebrates the second anniversary of his academy in 2007[LNB] More from Charles Sale... Triesman on brink as Premier League chief quits 2018 World Cup bid board25/11/09 EXCLUSIVE: England's 2018 World Cup bid rocked as Sir Dave Richards quits24/11/09 Charles Sale: Francis Baron forced to quit RFU in July 20/11/09 FA in new plan to fill 2018 World Cup bid's £5m gap19/11/09 CHARLES SALE: Ashes book sales easy for scorers19/11/09 CHARLES SALE: Russian exposes Lord 'Two Jobs' 17/11/09 Charles Sale: Premier League big guns ready to fill in £5m England 2018 bid gap16/11/09 CHARLES SALE: Wealth of interest in Premier League football15/11/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE The five-year lease on the building next door to the O2 Arena is notbeing renewed at the end of the year as owners AEG whose otherproperties include Beckham's LA Galaxy club have plans for thetemporary structure to become an Olympic warm-up venue for those due tocompete at the O2.[LNB]Instead Beckham, who has had over 100,000 kids through his Londonfootball school, is taking his academy on the road. [LNB]About half of the20 coaches employed at Greenwich will be retained for the new venturewhich will see brand Beckham going into communities and schools at homeand abroad to teach football and life skills. AEG will also attempt toincorporate the Beckham coaches who will lose their jobs within theirempire.[LNB]The beleaguered England 2018 bid, for whom Beckham will fly the flagat the World Cup draw in Cape Town next week, have already showninterest in using this more flexible travelling academy, which willinclude advice on nutrition and other football-related matters, on thecampaign trial.[LNB] [LNB]Former England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher warmed up for today's eagerly anticipated Test Match Special appearance when he will share a commentary booth with Geoff Boycott during the ODI between England and South Africa in Cape Town by apparently snubbing Yorkshire's master batsman in the hotel bar of the Sandton Sun in Johannesburg. [LNB]Fletcher was in conversation with some South African cricketers including captain Graeme Smith when Boycott joined the company prompting Fletcher (above) to turn his back on the group until Boycott departed.[LNB] [LNB]Amos misses targetThe Australian World Cup bid paid for Sports Agenda's journey to Canberra the same city in which former England 2018 bid director Baroness Amos is now based as the British High Commissioner to Australia. But, although supposedly still supporting the campaign, Amos whom 2018 bid leader Lord Triesman wanted to keep on as a director, claiming her skill-set couldn't be replicated was too busy over two days this week to spare time for a five-minute phone conversation about the campaign.[LNB]Contrast that with the Australian minister of sport Kate Ellis having dinner with the four journalists from UK, Nigeria, Cyprus and Egypt, and the minister for trade Simon Crean welcoming[LNB]them for a meeting in his office, while a number of other Government departments and agencies took part in a round table discussion.[LNB]It certainly helped demonstrate the Australian government are fully behind their bid, to which they have contributed AU$45million (£25m) while Whitehall have reneged on their £5m promise.[LNB]As for Amos and her unique skill-set helping England's cause ... forget it.[LNB] [LNB]Liverpool, one of the great citadels of world football, will totally rely on its former glories in the England 2018 host cities tender for which bids were lodged yesterday. [LNB]Merseyside need the England 2018 decision makers to somehow believe one of the two clubs will eventually build a stadium by including them in an expanded list, despite a public inquiry decision this week turning down Everton's Kirkby plan, while Liverpool's cash-strapped owners are no closer to starting building on their stalled Stanley Park project.[LNB] [LNB]Etienne de Villiers, former chief executive of men's tennis tour organisers ATP, was instrumental during his time in charge in bringing the world tour finals to London and the O2 Arena. [LNB]But such are the petty politics inside the organisation that de Villiers, who had a fall-out with the all-powerful Roger Federer, wasn't on the official guest list this week for the event he masterminded until a friend ensured he got a ticket well away from the new ATP high command.[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Roger Federer, Geoff Boycott, Duncan Fletcher, David BeckhamPlaces:Liverpool, London, Cape Town, South Africa, Cyprus, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Australia, Egypt, Stanley Park
