SPORTS AGENDA: Vaughan joins Archer in breaching bubble protocol

Jofra Archer was not the only one to land himself in hot water around England’s second Test with West Indies at Old Trafford. 

On Saturday morning, former England captain Michael Vaughan posted a video on Instagram of himself and BBC Test Match Special colleague Phil Tufnell having a chat in Vaughan’s bedroom at the hotel within the biosecure bubble.

The meeting was a breach of protocol and angered the ECB.

Sports Agenda understands a warning was sent to the BBC over the pair’s behaviour, along with a message that any repeats could see both men thrown off the site, which also hosts the final Test of the series, starting on Friday.

While Archer was rightly condemned for his trip to Hove, which could have wrecked the cricketing summer and cost millions, it is only right that he is being supported while in isolation by the ECB.

Five days alone in a hotel room — with food dropped off at the door and only a balcony to head out to for fresh air — could take a mental toll.

Sources have disclosed that ECB medics have been regularly checking in with the 25-year-old to ensure his wellbeing is monitored.

Archer is in a pitch-facing room and has ventured out to watch the action. However, camera crews have been told shots of the hotel rooms are forbidden, so we have not seen him on our screens. 

EFL clubs trying to introduce ‘Covid clauses’

Worried EFL clubs are attempting to include ‘Covid clauses’ in any new signings’ contracts in case of a second outbreak.

A number of sides are struggling financially because of the pandemic and are trying to safeguard their futures in case of another wave.

Some EFL clubs want to add clauses in any new deals, including extensions for players already on their books, that include an automatic wage deferral or cut in case the country goes into lockdown again.

Gathering the support of the Professional Footballers’ Association for the move, along with that of the EFL, is proving tricky.

Soares tied up in cup confusion

Arsenal defender Cedric Soares was interviewed by the club’s website ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

He spoke at length about the victory over Liverpool and how they would look to take that momentum into the clash with Pep Guardiola’s men. Soares ended the piece with: ‘I am looking forward to playing on Saturday.’

One problem with that: Soares had played in the FA Cup for previous club Southampton in a January victory over Huddersfield.

Therefore, he was cup-tied and not available for Saturday’s 2-0 win over City at Wembley.

Don’t ask Paul Conway for the Lottery numbers 

If you want next week’s Lottery numbers, do not ask Barnsley co-chairman Paul Conway.

A video has emerged of the American making what, even at the time, sounded like a comment which could come back to bite him. 

During the Tykes’s civic reception to celebrate promotion to the Championship last summer, Conway was asked what he was looking forward to the most in the forthcoming season. 

‘Leeds United,’ he said.

‘We need to relegate those b******s.’ As things transpired, Barnsley were the last team champions Leeds defeated before their promotion to the Premier League was confirmed. Despite Sunday’s 1-0 win over Forest, Barnsley are three points from safety with one game to play.

Norwich booed off in an empty stadium 

Spare a thought for Norwich.

The Canaries became, to Sports Agenda’s knowledge, the only team to be booed off in an empty stadium following their relegation to the Championship.

Their seventh successive league defeat, a 4-0 pasting by West Ham at Carrow Road, sealed their fate. 

And it would appear that another shoddy performance failed to impress BT Sport’s crowd-noise controller, who was quick to stick the boot in at full time with audible, piped-in boos.

Arsenal’s ‘Hateful Eight’ revolt angers City chiefs

The suspected leading role played by Arsenal in the ‘Hateful Eight’s’ revolt against Manchester City has not gone unnoticed at the Etihad Stadium.

Back in March, Sportsmail revealed a group of the top-10 clubs had written to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to try to ensure any City attempt to delay their two-year ban while their appeal was ongoing was dismissed.

It infuriated manager Pep Guardiola, as last week’s feisty press conference highlighted.

Officials at City think the north London side were the driving force behind the move.

‘If they spent as much time sorting their own house out instead of having a go at us,’ said one source, ‘they might not be 10th.’

Insiders delighted with Louise Sutton appointment 

The appointment last week of Louise Sutton as editor of BBC Radio 5 Live Sport — following Mike Carr’s hasty exit — is an important one. 

At the top of Sutton’s to-do list will no doubt be repairing relations with staff who became disillusioned under Carr’s watch.

Department insiders are delighted with straight-talking Sutton’s arrival.

It is also to be hoped that she attempts to restore 5 Live’s sports coverage, given it seems to have been pushed aside to make way for banter and showbiz twaddle.

Technology issues mire Eddie Jones’ Zoom conference 

The RFU’s admirable decision to host a Zoom call with Eddie Jones backfired because of technological issues. 

Jones was unable to get on the video-conferencing system, so the comms team’s quick-thinking Verity Williams ended up holding her phone up close to her computer, with the England coach on the line via speakerphone.

Journalists who logged in were treated to a snap of Jones’s dog, Annie, 바카라사이트 which he uses as his WhatsApp profile picture. 

The conference worked well enough, but at times answers were inaudible and it meant broadcasters could not record video.

Jones is now back in the UK having been in Japan, where there were no issues with his Zoom accessibility.