Charles Sale: Sir Alex Ferguson bans Sky after their query over Garry Cook

27 January 2010 12:00
Sky Sports' live coverage of the Carling Cup semi-final and the money they pay to broadcast it has not stopped Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson - not for the first time - banning the TV network from his Press conferences.[LNB]Fergie is upset over what he sees as Sky's stoking up the acrimony surrounding the match, including frequent showing of Gary Neville's finger message to Carlos Tevez.[LNB] Ferguson: United boss is angry with Sky again[LNB]And Sky's Manchester man, James Cooper, got the hairdryer and his suspension on Tuesday for having the temerity to ask for Ferguson's reaction to Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook's crass 'biggest and best club in the world' comment.[LNB]Ferguson told Cooper: 'Listen, you come on about stuff that's of no interest to me. You try to promote yourself. Just leave the football to us, OK. You come on with some nonsense, so you do.'[LNB] Sarah Lynch, who starts work soon as the new managing director of Manchester City's acclaimed community programme, might not be too impressed to discover that the club's highly accident-prone chief executive, Garry Cook, seemingly preferred another candidate on the five-strong short list.[LNB]Cook even informed this candidate of his support, but his backing was insufficient to swing the vote.[LNB]  The battle raging between horse racing czars John Magnier and JP McManus and pubs group Mitchells & Butlers, whose chairman Simon Laffin has made allegations about his home and office being bugged, has strong echoes of the great Rock of Gibraltar breeding-rights dispute between the Irish billionaire duo and Sir Alex Ferguson.[LNB]The Ferguson camp made similar claims over concerns about bugs inside Old Trafford and the training ground, which proved to have no foundation.[LNB]And Magnier and McManus, whose Elpida investment vehicle has an 18 per cent stake in M&B worth £200m, have reacted to Laffin's public barbs by sending a letter to the group's directors explaining in detail why Laffin should be ousted at a shareholders' meeting on Thursday.[LNB]Coincidentally, Fergie's long-serving PA is called Lynn Laffin, but is no relation.[LNB] Triesman: Happy with the new arrangement[LNB]The Premier League have finally shown some tangible support for the England 2018 World Cup bid team by offering them satellite office space in their Gloucester Place, London HQ.[LNB]This makes it a lot easier for 2018 personnel to hold meetings in central London, since Wembley is not the easiest place from which to commute or attract visitors.[LNB]Even bid leader Lord Triesman, whose relationship with PL chief executive Richard Scudamore has broken down irrevocably, is happy with the new arrangement.[LNB]  [LNB] [LNB] [LNB]Australia's World Cup bid team for 2018 and 2022 are finding it hard to convince the country of the importance of football, given the opposition from rugby league and Australian Rules to handing over key stadiums during the tournament.[LNB]Yet they have ditched their head of communications Bonita Mersiades, who had morepassion and knowledge about football than anyone else connected with their bid and who worked around the clock on the campaign.[LNB]The ruthless dismissal of Mersiades, who was told not to return to the office following two family funerals but given no reason for her exit, is understood to have angered Australia's most high-profile player, Tim Cahill.[LNB]An Australian insider claimed Mersiades had made a number of strategic errors. The restructuring following her departure includes the appointment of English firm Square 1 Sports to raise the bid's international profile and former Great Britain rower Joanna Burns to help manage overseas events.[LNB] West Ham's new owners have begun in-house cost-cutting by cancelling the club credit and petrol cards which the hierarchy had been using.[LNB]And the chauffeur-driven vehicle which was on daily standby for top brass is also being permanently garaged.[LNB]  More from Charles Sale... Charles Sale: Sir Trevor Brooking echoes FA coaching rebel25/01/10 Charles Sale: Gary Neville's life story a matter of opinion24/01/10 Charles Sale: Tennis chiefs hire Stavros Flatley comic duo22/01/10 Charles Sale: Chelsea face Pitch battle to oust Richard King21/01/10 Charles Sale: Eggert Magnusson will have the write of reply!20/01/10 Charles Sale: Manchester United save face by silencing the twits19/01/10 Charles Sale: LMA chief Richard Bevan calls for bosses to be based at Burton 18/01/10 Charles Sale: Revolt over FA's fat-cat salaries17/01/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE  [LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People:Gary Neville, Carlos Tevez, Tim Cahill, Alex Ferguson, John MagnierPlaces:London, Manchester, United Kingdom, Australia

Source: Daily_Mail