Source: Daily_Mail
Charles Sale: Wayne Rooney's going to be double booked
Political blogger Iain Dale is taking a calculated risk with the publication of a controversial unofficial biography of Wayne Rooney written by BBC's investigative journalist John Sweeney.[LNB]Rooney's Gold is to be launched in hardback (£16.99) on May 27, just before the start of the World Cup, through Dale's biteback publishing arm. [LNB]Page turner: Rooney[LNB]However, a warts-and-all, Sweeney-written book on Rooney was due to comeout three years ago published by Random House as their response to missing out on the official £5million five-book deal Rooney signed with Harper Collins. [LNB] More from Charles Sale... CHARLES SALE: Slim pickings for West Ham fight night 11/03/10 CHARLES SALE: Tiger gives Elin a £100m wedge - shamed Woods hands huge payment to wife 11/03/10 Charles Sale: Caring West Bromwich Albion get shirty for charity09/03/10 CHARLES SALE: More stars hit by Spain meltdown 08/03/10 CHARLES SALE: Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney lining-up against Formation07/03/10 EXCLUSIVE: Wembley rip up the pitch again after mountain of criticism06/03/10 CHARLES SALE: A whole new ball game for npower with Football League and World Cup 2018 bid sponsorship deals04/03/10 CHARLES SALE: Seconds out for the two Franks: Warren hits Maloney with High Court writ 03/03/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE But Rooney's advisors hired law firm Schillings and their heavyweightlegal warnings persuaded Random House to shelve the project.[LNB]Sweeney, who retained the copyright, has persuaded Biteback to go ahead with a rewritten manuscript, although Rooney's camp are considering their options ahead of the launch. Dale is confident the book will not be subject to a legal challenge as various issues involving Rooney's agent Paul Stretford are now a matter of public record.[LNB]Meanwhile, Harper Collins, whose first Rooney book written by Hunter Davies was not a success, are keeping their options open about bringing out the second book, with a different ghostwriter, after the World Cup.[LNB] [LNB]The Observer paid the inevitable penalty yesterday for their story last week claiming Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (right), despite his strong denial, was supporting the Red Knights. They were banned from Fergie's Sunday newspaper press conference, which could now take place in a telephone kiosk with two invitees.[LNB] [LNB]Former BBC sports editor Mihir Bose was booed off the stage by irate publishers at the sports book awards at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel. They were upset at being lectured by Bose over the quality of their writers after he had awarded the autobiography of the year to Andre Agassi's story, ghosted by Pulitzer prize winner JR Moehringer. Bose himself is not exactly known for his flowing prose.[LNB] [LNB]BBC Sport are not covering the World Indoor Athletics for the first time despite London 2012 drawing nearer and the palaver last summer at the World Championships in Berlin with their presenter beauty parade won by John Inverdale to settle their 2012 athletics host. The reason is a four-time hike in the price.[LNB] [LNB]Mighty Google do not get everything right. Yesterday's opening day coverage of the Indian Premier League on the Google-owned YouTube, who paid $1million for the global on-line rights, went pear-shaped in the UK at least when a connection failed.[LNB] [LNB]Clarke's open regimeCaptain of industry Greg Clarke made a bold start to his reign as executive chairman of the Football League in succession to Lord Mawhinney by pledging more transparency, saying if he does not deliver 'you should hound me from office'.[LNB]The former chief executive of Cable & Wireless and Lend Lease Corporation, was the unanimous choice of the Football League board from a high-calibre shortlist. He said: 'I won't hide and I have a long track record of telling the truth.'[LNB]He will start by working six days a week, although the £150,000-a-year job is paid for three days. Leicester fan Clarke, 52, was chairman of the club when they went into administration in 2002, personally losing £500,000. As a result 'Greg Clarke will make no Leicester-related decisions.' Worringly said in the dreaded third person, as was the comment: 'Greg Clarke is not the font of all good ideas.'[LNB]And confusingly for someone who says: 'I'm not a spin artist,' there were three Football League related PR men at Clarke's first media briefing one for every three journalists.[LNB] [LNB]Liverpool fans behind the campaign to oust owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, by putting pressure on Royal Bank of Scotland not to re-finance their £237million loan in July, have been assured by supportive former owner David Moores that he will break his silence at the end of the season. He can start by explaining why he sold to the Americans apart from picking up almost £90m himself.[LNB] [LNB]
