JOHN SKIPPER SAILS ON

ESPN’s executive vice-president, John Skipper, announced this week that subscription rates would not drop, despite the watering down of their blue-riband content, and has even been talking to clubs about exploiting the football fan base in America.

Sports Illustrated says: “If you are a soccer fan in America, Skipper is the most important man in the country.”

As such, Skipper was bemused to be told by Tottenham chief Daniel Levy to talk to his “people” and not him directly.

But Manchester City and many other clubs were queuing up to talk to Spurs fanSkipper.