Former ECB managing director Paul Downton ready to come out of hiding

  • Paul Downton was sacked following England's exit from the 2015 World Cup
  • He now hopes to return to sport having purposely spent time away from cricket 
  • Former England assistant John Gorman is now concentrating on his painting
  • Tinder have confirmed they are interested in sponsoring Manchester United
  • Manchester City physio Carlo Sertori tried to jump the queue for a Nashville bar 

Paul Downton is hoping to return to working in sport two years after being sacked as managing director of the ECB in the wake of the humiliating group-stage exit from the 2015 World Cup.

Downton has purposely spent time away from cricket following his harrowing 14-month tenure with England. While there he cancelled Kevin Pietersen’s central contract and then had to apologise for saying KP had been ‘disinterested and distracted’ during what proved to be his last Test appearance in Sydney in January 2014, where the Aussies completed an Ashes whitewash.

But Downton, who has been building up a sports mentoring business since ECB chief executive Tom Harrison made him the scapegoat for England’s travails, feels ready to make another contribution to cricket, most likely with Middlesex.

Paul Downton, who was sacked as ECB managing director in 2015, is hoping to return to sport

Paul Downton, who was sacked as ECB managing director in 2015, is hoping to return to sport

Downton cancelled Kevin Pietersen's central contract and was succeeded by Andrew Strauss

Downton cancelled Kevin Pietersen's central contract and was succeeded by Andrew Strauss

Downton made a low-profile start to his re-engagement with the sport by acting as umpire in a country house T20 game between Lord’s Taverners and Lord March’s XI at Goodwood House during the racing festival.


Meanwhile, the biggest surprise of the brief Downton regime is that chief selector James Whitaker, who was expected to have been shown the exit at the same time, has survived two years under Downton’s successor, Andrew Strauss.

 

Spotted at Glorious Goodwood has been John Gorman, England assistant manager under Glenn Hoddle, who after 44 years in football can now concentrate on his great talent for painting.

Former England assistant coach John Gorman is now concentrating on his talent for painting

Former England assistant coach John Gorman is now concentrating on his talent for painting

 

Fitness instructor Stephen Power, who has made his name as the self-publicist RacingBlogger, posting irreverent clips on social media about the sport, is in trouble with the authorities.

The Racecourse Media Group have warned him that he will have to apply for proper accreditation for filming on the racetrack if he wants to continue doing so. But Racing Post editor Bruce Millington has taken the RacingBlogger under his wing and is appealing to RMG to be lenient.

Meanwhile, there is a danger that famous greyhound tracks around the country could go out of business, as has happened in London with the closure of iconic venues Walthamstow and Wimbledon. An in-house battle over screening races in betting shops could seriously affect tracks whose races are not being shown.

 
Dating app Tinder have confirmed they are 'in talks' with Manchester United

Tinder have confirmed they are 'in talks' with Manchester United about sponsoring the club

Dating app Tinder have confirmed their interest in sponsoring Manchester United, as first revealed by Sports Agenda. A Tinder spokesperson said: ‘We are in talks with Manchester United to explore potential partnership opportunities. We are excited to see what we can do together.’ United have an opening for a sleeve sponsor but Tinder are also examining other opportunities.

 

Goodwood’s Gulf crisis

Conspicuous by their absence from Goodwood have been Dubai TV, who normally have a team working at all the big race meetings.

It is understood they did not want to give extra promotion to Qatar, who sponsor the festival and whose branding at the course is off the scale.

The snub became even more apparent when it emerged that Dubai TV did not take the world feed to show the racing from Goodwood in the Middle East on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Dubai TV, who are usually at all big race meetings, are notable absentees from Goodwood

Dubai TV, who are usually at all big race meetings, are notable absentees from Goodwood

However, the blockade by Gulf states who have accused Qatar of funding terrorism didn’t stop Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed running horses at Goodwood, as Sports Agenda revealed it wouldn’t during Royal Ascot.

But Qatar’s racing top brass have yet to show at Goodwood despite their huge sponsorship. Their absence is being put down to not wanting to be seen abroad too often during the current crisis.

 

Carlo Sertori, former England physio now working for Manchester City, was convinced he could jump the queue outside the Honky Tonks bar in Nashville, Tennessee where he had reserved a table while on pre-season tour with City. However, much to his embarrassment, the bouncers would not let him in even after he played the City card.