Ed Warner: Cricket should follow Ryder Cup to save Test matches December 16, 2021 The matter-of-fact delivery of his bleak assessment was like a punch to the gut. Here was someone woven into the fabric of international cricket who believed Test matches would become extinct in his lifetime. The individual in question, who shall remain nameless, might hope to have a good four or five decades ahead of him, [...]
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and House of Fraser empire kicks off £70m share buyback plan December 13, 2021 Retail baron Miek Ashley has announced the start of a £70m share buyback plan for Frasers in an attempt to boost the company’s share price. Bosses at the group, which includes department store House of Fraser and retail chains Sports Direct and Game, said the plan is to reduce the number of shares in circulation. [...]
Formula 1: Verstappen wins on last lap of last race on last weekend December 12, 2021 After the way this 2021 Formula 1 season had been going up to this concluding weekend, you probably would have got short odds on it coming down to the last lap of the last race of the last weekend. It’s what we deserved. All hail Max Verstappen, the 24-year-old Dutchman who joins a roster of [...]
A diplomatic boycott of Beijing’s winter Olympics is a vote for a free Hong Kong December 10, 2021 The Olympic motto of ‘Faster, higher, stronger” is as famous as it is inspiring. The recent update from Pierre de Coubitin’s original iteration now includes “together”. It is in this renewed spirit that the UK must now stand together with the USA and other countries who are staging a full diplomatic boycott of the 2022 [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group profits surging despite rising supply chain costs December 9, 2021 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has reporting surging half-year profits and forecast a jump in annual earnings despite revealing a hit for supply chain costs and pandemic uncertainty. The parent company of chains including Sports Direct, House of Fraser and Flannels reported pre-tax profits of £186 million for the six months to October 24, up from [...]
Waterstones ‘named and shamed’ for failing to pay minimum wage December 9, 2021 Waterstones are among just some of the companies that have been “named and shamed” by the Government this morning for failing to pay the minimum wage.
Ed Warner: Soft power and sport – why do they do that? December 9, 2021 To the Guildhall for the launch of EY’s study of soft power and major sporting events, commissioned by the City of London and UK Sport. The publication was timely, coinciding with the findings of the inquiry into the chaos at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley which tarnished Britain’s hosting credentials, as well as the [...]
Goodbye 2G and 3G, hello 5G: Dorries agrees £50m to make UK telecoms safer December 8, 2021 The government have announced new measures this morning to boost UK telecoms security, including phasing out 2G and 3G by 2033.
Saudi Arabia: Hamilton and Verstappen level on points after chaotic race December 5, 2021 If you were to convert yesterday’s race into a film script and pitch it to the bigwigs of Hollywood, you would be laughed out of the door for it being unfeasible. In the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix we saw the very best, and some of the worst, of the sport. But, when all’s said [...]
Ed Warner: Crouch review recommendations could drive Premier League away December 2, 2021 I really wanted to embrace the “fan-led” Tracey Crouch review of football governance in England. But with each turn of its 162 pages my heart sank further at the unmistakable sight of the heavy hand of Whitehall. The Crouch review’s recommendations revolve around the creation of an independent regulator for the sport. This displays a [...]