This afternoon will see the publication (for non-insider eyes at least) of the Stevens/ Quest report into the bung culture that pervades English football.
Don't hold your breath.
Firstly, The Premier League will use the report to enhance their power over the Football Association. The report will be morphed into something it was not originally intended to be.
Secondly, don't expect many clubs or managers to be fingered by the report. Bolton will be slapped on the wrist and a few rogue agents may be banned but one shouldn't expect that any of the key clubs mentioned in the BBC Panorama programme (Portsmouth, Chelsea, Liverpool or Middlesboro) will have anything to fear. They certainly won't touch Redknapp (incidentally, how does a bog-standard Premiership football manager come to own 600-700 houses in London?).
Thirdly, expect Mike Newell to be ousted from the game as soon as decently possible for opening the can of worms in the first place.
Delaying the release of the findings to the days leading up to xmas is the sort of creative spin that one expects from the Quest team. Quest's report relating to the murder of Princess Diana gave an absolute indication that the corporate intelligence firm is merely an establishment cover-up.
Globally, all my contacts with respect to both Financial and Football markets are mystified how the British have any doubts about the termination of Diana's life. A Romanian colleague suggested "in Romania, power abuse is called corruption; in Italy, the mafia and in England, the establishment".
For his services to the powers-that-be, expect Lord Stevens to be given a knighthood as soon as possible.
© Football Is Fixed/Dietrological
