Manchester United head coach’s job is to be a fall guy and human shield January 8, 2026 AI is the scourge of the modern employment market. Applicants generate automated covering letters that tick off every requirement in a job spec, and are then interviewed by robots which provide almost instantaneous rejections. Reluctant to be a Luddite in this mind-scrambling new world, here is my open letter to Sir Jim Ratcliffe applying to [...]
A chance to test yourself: Youngs and Watson on the Investec Champions Cup January 7, 2026 For all they achieved in their distinguished careers, there remains one prize that has eluded Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson. Between them, the former England internationals amassed over 200 caps, toured with the British and Irish Lions and played in some of the game’s most iconic stadiums. Yet the Investec Champions Cup never found its [...]
Manchester City asked to give up FA Cup revenue to opponents Exeter January 7, 2026 Cash-strapped Exeter City have asked Manchester City to ease their financial struggles by donating some of their share of the proceeds from this weekend’s FA Cup tie. Exeter and City are both due 45 per cent of the gate receipts from Saturday’s third-round match at the Etihad Stadium, which will bank the visitors between £250,000 [...]
Cadillac add tech sponsor as Formula 1 newcomers gear up for debut January 7, 2026 Cadillac Formula 1 Team have added software provider IFS to their portfolio of commercial partners as they continue preparations for joining the grid this year. Sweden-based IFS is the team’s first non-US partner and joins Tommy Hilfiger and Jim Beam in backing Cadillac ahead of their eagerly anticipated F1 debut. “IFS has been instrumental in [...]
Premier Sports to broadcast five Six Nations matches across UK January 7, 2026 Premier Sports will broadcast five Six Nations matches across the UK as the streaming platform looks to strengthen its rugby offering. The Irish broadcaster, which holds the UK rights to rugby competitions such as the French Top 14, Investec Champions Cup and multinational United Rugby Championship, will show one match per round, beginning with Scotland’s [...]
Exeter Chiefs post £10m loss as they seek fresh investment January 7, 2026 Prem Rugby club Exeter Chiefs have posted a loss of £10.3m in their most recent accounts, just weeks after chairman Tony Rowe reiterated plans to sell a stake in the club. The Devonian team, seen as one of English rugby’s great promotion stories, saw their ownership company Exeter Rugby Group PLC record losses of £10.3m [...]
SA20 future in doubt as Big Bash sale process squeezes cricket investment January 7, 2026 The SA20 franchise tournament is facing an uncertain financial future amid the threat of fresh competition for funding from Cricket Australia’s Big Bash, which is preparing to sell off stakes in its franchises to private investors later this year. All six SA20 franchises are owned by Indian Premier League teams, many of whom have expressed [...]
Back Bawn to start the New Year with a Boom January 6, 2026 AFTER huge crowds packed into Kempton for two high-class days of racing over Christmas, which saw a brilliant three-way finish in the King George, racing returns to the Sunbury-on-Thames venue this Saturday. Ground conditions continue to be much dryer than the norm for this time of the year, and while rain is due later this [...]
Have a few Bob on Olinger to retain Stayers’ Hurdle January 6, 2026 WITH the turn of the year behind us and the 2026 Cheltenham Festival looming in the not-so-distant future, now is the time to begin building our ante-post portfolio for the Festival. Tipping an 11-year-old in one of the Championship races at this point might raise a few eyebrows, but I think there’s plenty to suggest [...]
Fownes and Ho Perfect Together at the Valley January 6, 2026 LOCAL racegoers can look forward to the first race meeting of the year at Happy Valley, when the city track hosts a nine-race card, starting at 10.40am on Wednesday. Former four-time champion trainer Caspar Fownes will surely be licking his lips with anticipation at a return to his favourite track after a relatively quiet Christmas [...]