ITV turn to ex-England boss Glenn Hoddle to take over from Andy Townsend

Glenn Hoddle will take over from Andy Townsend as ITV co-commentator
Hoddle will be under the spotlight with a big audience at Euro 2016
The FA are in final negotiations over England’s Euro 2016 training base
Henry Blofeld frequently made mistakes during England’s one-day match against New Zealand but will commentate on four of five Ashes Tests

Published:
21:32 GMT, 15 June 2015

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Updated:
23:15 GMT, 15 June 2015

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ITV Sport are turning to Glenn Hoddle to be their co-commentator for England matches next season and at Euro 2016 when the spotlight will be at its most intense.

Live England games at major tournaments attract the biggest TV sports audiences of the year — and the co-com role is a particularly difficult one. Phil Neville found this out when he was vilified for his monotone delivery during England’s opening World Cup defeat against Italy in Manaus.

But at least former England manager Hoddle already has international experience in this role with Sky, while BBC inexplicably gave Neville his live debut in a match of such importance.

Glenn Hoddle, who has worked for Sky and is part of BT Sport’s team, will commentate for ITV at Euro 2016

Hoddle (right) was recently announced as part of BT Sport’s Champions League pundit team (pictured)

Hoddle will replace Andy Townsend as co-commentator for England’s Euro 2016 campaign in France

Hoddle will be replacing Andy Townsend, who is leaving ITV by mutual consent at the end of his contract and with ITV losing the live Champions League rights to BT Sport. Hoddle will be part of BT Sport’s Champions League coverage having turned down an offer to stay at Sky.

ITV are expected to put on a one-hour CL highlights show next season with commentator Clive Tyldesley still going to the best games but with a sparse crew.

Townsend spent 15 years at ITV, but commentated on his final match on Sunday – England’s win over Slovenia

The FA are in final negotiations for their preferred training base at Euro 2016 after a hunt all over France for the right venue that has been going on for over a year. One site looked at in detail was Terre Blanche, a luxury hotel golf resort in Provence. But, as has been one of the major problems throughout the search, the training pitches were not good enough. The FA, who will re-lay the pitch if necessary, hope to conclude a deal by the time of the World Cup draw in St Petersburg next month. Chantilly outside Paris still looks the best option.

The FA are in final negotiations over England’s training base for the Euro 2016 tournament in France

Henry Blofeld, the 75-year-old Test Match Special commentator, wasn’t at his best during the England one-day match against New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl. He frequently got names and scores wrong — like ‘Willey to Wood’ when it was ‘Wood to Williamson’. But Blowers is in a pretty unique position with regular on-air blunders being seen as part of his charm by Beeb bosses who describe him as ‘much-loved’. Despite being written off a decade ago Blowers, the great survivor, will be commentating on four out of the five Ashes Tests.

Cricket commentator Henry Blofeld (right) wasn’t at his best for England’s one-day game against New Zealand

Sepp Blatter’s PR adviser, Klaus Stoehlker, may still be spinning the wholly fanciful line that the discredited FIFA President can stand for election yet again. Far more relevant to the crumbling Zurich edifice is the Nobel Peace Foundation, who agreed their ‘handshake for peace’ partnership in 2012, severing links with corruption-riddled FIFA. Blatter has long coveted a Nobel Peace prize which he won’t receive now.

Sepp Blatter has long coveted a Nobel Peace prize but his chances of that are long gone now

Frankel jockey a faller

Flat jockey Tom Queally, who rode the great Frankel in all 14 of his unbeaten races, failed to get a mention on the C4 documentary about the horse and its late, great trainer Henry Cecil — even when the film was showing the rider changing into the Frankel colours. Queally, who has failed to become the frontline jockey his Frankel association suggested, did not contribute to the programme. It is understood he demanded too much money. Queally, who only has two booked rides at Royal Ascot this week, is currently serving a 22-month drink-driving ban after claiming in court last November he was ‘sleepwalking’ while driving when double the limit.

The first of a proposed chain of Beefy’s restaurants — a joint enterprise between Sir Ian Botham and Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove — opened at the Ageas Bowl at the weekend. Others are planned for Abu Dhabi, Durham and Stockport. Plans for celebrity chef Marco Pierre White to get involved broke down with Botham, described by Bransgrove as the ‘greatest living Englishman’, ending his launch speech by declaring ‘Who needs Marco?’

Sir Ian Botham (pictured) opened the first of a proposed chain of ‘Beefy’s’ restaurants at the Ageas Bowl

There don’t seem to be too many perks associated with being on the Football League board of directors, apart from the annual summer meeting jolly in Portugal. Yet an unprecedented nine clubs have put forward representatives, including Paul Barber of Brighton, Jez Moxey of Wolves and Charlton’s Katrien Meire for the two vacant Championship directorships.