MoL shares Big Sam’s pain. West Ham in free fall. One tabloid dubbed Allardyce, “The duffer in the puffer.” He’s an experienced football manager, say his backers but talk on the terraces is of Will Self being brought in to manage West Ham, in accordance with an FA initiative (Educating the Game) to appoint author managers, as part of a joint move to 1) raise the level of the game, 2) stop them writing books and 3) educate footballers. Joe Cole quotes Mallarmé in post-match interview; John Terry, Beckett (‘Chelsea will fail better’). ‘Lamps’ Lampard to host supporters’ evening on the short stories of Katherine Mansfield. So far, Houellebecq to Liverpool, McEwan to Arsenal, Kelman to Man Utd (Scot for Scot), Barnes to WBA, Boyd to Stoke, McNab to Chelsea, Hornby to Tottenham, Le Carré to Man City, Welsh to Sunderland, Faulks to Crystal Palace. Among posts available Aston Villa, Norwich (Jamie Oliver in discussion), Newcastle, Fulham, Everton, Cardiff, Swansea. Qualifications should include at least three published novels, a degree in creative writing (preferably UEA), plus literary award and/or academic tenure.
(West Ham spoil it yesterday by winning away at Cardiff.)