SPORTS AGENDA: PGMOL are seeking a new chair to lighten Howard Webb’s load, Wolves take fans into the dressing room… and England head to India without a broadcast deal

• Ref’s body PGMOL is seeking a new chair in a role to support Howard Webb, 52 
• Police have arrested 12 men from the brawl following Bolton’s match with Wigan
• Manchester United in a mess – they have a collapse in them – It’s All Kicking Off 

Ref’s body PGMOL is seeking a new chair in a role which some feel should come with a flak jacket and a shield. 

The under-fire group want another figurehead in a move which may take some pressure off the shoulders of chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, who is often the only one in the spotlight following the latest blunder. 

Agenda understands that closing interviews are currently taking place and the race is down to the final two. Those seeking a swift appointment may well be hoping that VAR has no role in the process. 

The new arrival will replace outgoing chair Mike Foster and is likely to be more public-facing than their predecessor. The role will be full-time and an experienced candidate is being hunted.

The under-fire group want another figurehead in a move which may take some pressure off the shoulders of chief refereeing officer Howard Webb (pictured above) 

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Wolves take fans BTS and into the dressing room 

Interesting to see Wolves become one of the first clubs to take fans into the dressing room – and provide the holy grail of content desperately sought by broadcasters.

The Molineux outfit produced a fascinating, 30-second clip of a delighted Gary O’Neil addressing his players after their dramatic late victory over Tottenham last month. 

In it, he praises them for their level of performance which he says was above anything he could produce as a player and asks them to maintain such a level going forwards – after enjoying their time off. This is the kind of footage those who pay vast sums crave. 

Premier League rules dictate that clubs cannot produce such content without sharing it with the match broadcaster, which in this case was TNT. 

Agenda understands Amazon want to do similar at Wolves’ match with Burnley this week. The club, wary of retaining control, will again film themselves and edit accordingly before any decision is reached.

Interesting to see Wolves become one of the first clubs to take fans into the dressing room – and provide the holy grail of content desperately sought by broadcasters

https://youtube.com/watch?v=v9i0FBjDsU0%3Frel%3D0

England head to India in January for a five-Test tour WITHOUT a broadcast deal in place 

England head to India in January for a five-Test tour but there remains no agreement over who will broadcast the action. Those with knowledge of what is an awkward situation believe that things remain ‘very much in the air’ despite the clock ticking. 

The view is that Sky Sports are the only show in town and have no interest in paying what they feel is over the odds. Sky are said to be ‘miles away’ from the notoriously stubborn demands of the BCCI and a breakthrough remains elusive. 

England start in Hyderabad on January 25 before heading to Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala.

In 2021 Channel 4 won the rights to show England’s tour of India, with confirmation arriving just days before the first Test.

England head to India in January for a five-Test tour but there remains no agreement over who will broadcast the action

Officials at Blackpool vent their frustrations over FA’s late call on their FA Cup tie with Forest Green

Officials at Blackpool have been left seething at the FA over the ludicrously late postponement of their FA Cup tie with Forest Green. 

Agenda understands that the Gloucestershire side had already set off for Lancashire when the news dropped on Friday evening that the Saturday fixture was to be called off while they investigated the eligibility of a Forest Green player who had turned out for the club in the previous round, weeks earlier. 

It is thought those at Bloomfield Road may seek recompense from the FA for the food and drink ordered in for the game and are also disgruntled at the impact any rearrangement would have on an already-busy December schedule.

Officials at Blackpool have been left seething at the FA over the ludicrously late postponement of their FA Cup tie with Forest Green

Nott County surprised to be contacted by $8bn trading company, Robinhood

Notts County were surprised to take a call from an $8bn trading company who subsequently took sleeve sponsorship for their participation in this year’s FA Cup. 

US-based Robinhood – named more for its approach to commission-free stock trading rather than any link to Sherwood Forest – are also sponsors of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and inked the deal at Meadow Lane to mark their entry into the UK market.

Notts County were surprised to take a call from an $8bn dollar trading company who subsequently took sleeve sponsorship for their participation in this year’s FA Cup

US-based Robinhood – named more for its approach to commission-free stock trading rather than any link to Sherwood Forest – are also sponsors of the NBA’s Washington Wizards

Premier League executive lays down the law with prospective new manager 

A bizarre story is flying around Premier League boardrooms relating to the rumoured comments from one executive who would appear to have some work to do when it comes to getting to grips with how the whole thing works. 

The individual in question is said to have told a prospective new manager that their club was committed to a ‘4-4-3’ formation and, in a meeting on transfer targets, warned that they would have to be wary about signing player x from another club because he only had a year on his contract and so – if they did the deal – they would risk losing him on a free in 12 months.

Police make 12 arrests from the brawl following Bolton’s match with Wigan

Police in Greater Manchester arrested 12 men in a series of dawn raids after a 50-person brawl brought panic to the streets of Westhoughton after Bolton’s match with Wigan.

Around 50 officers swooped on the group, with the 12 – aged between 16 and 58 – taken into custody for questioning after being arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. Seven arrests were carried out in Bolton and five in Wigan. Police say the trouble was ‘pre-planned’ and saw numbers of innocent people ‘caught up in the violence’. They believe the arrests, which come months after the game in August, send out a clear message to those looking to cause trouble at matches.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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