IN A month's time the tabloid press will be engaged in a cut-throat circulation war that will centre around "backing our boys" in the World Cup. In their dreams it will be 'the Sun wot won it'.
With super soaraway reader giveaways, competitions to win win win, free Wayne Rooney masks and those essential cut-out-and-throw-in-the-bin supplements they will be chasing sales and a massive advertising revenue boost. Vast sums rest on Team England's progress. A successful team means profit for the papers.
So why the hell are they doing their best to disrupt the national team? What is the point of an unprincipled rummage through the metaphorical dustbins of candidates for the job of England manager? The self-appointed, self righteous moral guardians of the nation are showing themselves to be the most salacious, unscruplous and sleazy gossip mongers imaginable. The intolerable tabloid zest for a shock horror expose is out of control.
Already one excellent candidate has pulled out, shocked by the muck-raking. Big Phil Scolari, the clear favourite and just thrashing out the terms - and someone who has already lifted the World Cup - is not prepared to put up with the scandalous witch-hunting of a hypocritical gutter press. And he is completely right. No one should put up with this sanctimonious kangeroo court which has become a shameful and corrosive ritual.
lt brings contempt on journalism and ridicule on the English. The media chiefs who make these editorial decisions should be thoroughly embarrassed that a world renowned coach has exposed them so completely.
Scolari called a press conference to withdraw from the race for the poisoned chalice and made his reason scrystal clear. The Brazilian Portugal coach said he had been shocked by intrusion into his life by the English media. "There are 20 reporters outside my house now," he observed. "That is part of another culture, it is not part of my culture. I am not the coach, and will not be (England's) coach.
"I don't want this situation involving England because in two days during which I was not yet coach - I never agreed to anything - my life was invaded. My privacy was totally under siege. My freedom was taken away from me and that is not the coaching I am used to."
He said the press had made "absurd comparisons" between him and his wife and Eriksson and fashion victim Nancy. He might also have commented on a national newspaper making an issue of his facial hair and offering a cut out "Big Phil' moustache. No wonder Fat Sam shaved his off.
"That's not part of my life and its never going to be," said Scolari as he slammed the door on England. Way to go lads. Right, having seen off the best foreign candidate it is now time to turn the guns on the best English one.
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