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8 months ago
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The Premier League's sixth placed team will qualify for the Champions League places for the first time next season if West Ham finish fifth and win the Europa League.
The progress of Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and West Ham to the quarter-finals of this season’s European competitions means the Premier League are set to receive one of two extra Champions League spots allocated to countries with the best UEFA ranking, with the fifth-placed qualifying position passing to the sixth team in the Premier League if the same club also qualify by winning a UEFA trophy.
Although currently 11 points off fifth West Ham appear more likely to finish in that position than title-chasing Arsenal, City and Liverpool.
The Premier League would not get an extra Champions League place if a club finishing in the top four also win a trophy however, in which case that spot would be allocated to another country.
Man City are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League once again
Arsenal are also into the last eight, and there could be as many as six English clubs in the Champions League next season
FA approval process scrutinised after England kit debacle
The FA’s review of the approval process behind England’s controversial new Nike kit has already discovered that more rigorous the checks and balances were in place under previous regimes at Wembley.
Mail Sport revealed last week that the reworked St George’s Cross on England’s new home shirt was signed off by former FA commercial director Nav Singh in a streamlined process, whereas in previous years such decisions involved all of the FA’s senior leadership team.
Mail Sport has been told that between 2010 and 2015 the process involved all new shirts being placed on mannequins in the Wembley Boardroom for a viewing party including the England men’s manager, the under 21’s manager, the FA’s technical director, the women’s manager, the chief operations officer, commercial director and Chair of the FA.
All of the key individuals had also been consulted previously before the final viewing.
England's new kit caused controversy due to the reworked St George's Cross, and it has now emerged that there were previously more rigorous checks before kits were signed off
Man United and Newcastle in stalemate over Ashworth
Manchester United and Newcastle are refusing to compromise in the stand-off over Dan Ashworth, with both clubs planning for a summer transfer window without having a sporting director in place.
Newcastle are content with letting head of recruitment Steve Nixon mastermind their summer transfer plans after placing Ashworth on gardening leave, while United are adamant they will not meet demands for £20million in compensation, with incoming chief executive Omar Berrada expected to take charge of negotiations in the interim.
Man United want Dan Ashworth (pictured) as their next sporting director, but are yet to agree a compensation fee with Newcastle
Potential conflicts of interest at the PFA
The PFA are facing more accusations of overlooking potential conflicts of interest as Board member Ebru Koksal is also working as an advisor to Mercury/13, an investment fund who have pledged to spend £85million on buying women’s football clubs.
The American-based firm bought a controlling stake in Serie club Como Women earlier this month and held talks about buying Championship side FC Lewes. Koksal’s role at Mercury/13 has raised eyebrow given her position as an independent Non-executive Director at the players’ union.
PFA chief executive Maheta Molango faced similar questions over a potential conflict of interests when he accepted a position on the Board of Italian club Sampdoria earlier this month.
PFA Board member Ebru Koksal (pictured) is also working as an advisor to Mercury/13
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