Minus seven

MANY years ago, when I still had hopes, ambitions and delusions of talent, I went for a job interview.

After travelling to the company’s offices, filling in a form to confirm that I was neither a nutter nor a kleptomaniac and telling the head of whatever where I saw myself in five years’ time, I was told to expect a phone call later in the day telling me whether I had been successful.

Unbelievable. Unrepeatable?

I PHONED up Brett Ormerod yesterday for a newspaper article. Once we’d managed to overcome a dodgy mobile phone signal, he was happy to chat to me about Blackpool’s promotion to the Premier League.

The fearlessness of Ian Holloway

SEAN O’Driscoll has a media profile about as far removed from Ian Holloway as it is possible to imagine. But although the Doncaster Rovers manager may speak quietly, he does talk sense.

Asked earlier in the season about the job Holloway was doing at Blackpool, O’Driscoll replied: “They’re a dangerous side to face, because he’s got them playing without fear.”

You never know, I suppose

OK, so England have won one World Cup (nice to be better than Australia at something) and are well on the way to losing another (excuse me, Lord Triesman, can you speak up a bit? The microphone on my secret hidden tape recorder isn’t very powerful).

There is, though, only one big topic of sporting conversation this week: How on earth will Sky go about hyping up their live coverage of Morecambe’s play-off semi-final second leg against Dagenham and Redbridge tomorrow night?

Grant checked

DESPITE his best efforts today, Avram Grant remains the only Chelsea manager to have lost an FA Cup tie in the last four seasons. Kayode Odejayi’s winner for Barnsley in March 2008 created one of the great cup upsets of recent times. A Portsmouth victory at Wembley today might just have matched it.

Last on MOTD: Frequently asked questions

I’VE been keeping records of which teams are shown last on Match of the Day for three seasons now, and barely a day goes by without someone asking: “Mike, what the hell are you doing with your life?”

Last on MOTD: Nine points

THE title race went to the final day, but we knew deep down that it would take a mathematical miracle to deny the morning’s leaders. And now the celebrations can begin. Portsmouth are the 2010 Gubbometer champions.

When will I see you again?

IT starts like this. A father says to his 10-year-son: “We should try to get to a Stockport County game before they drop out of the league.”

Notes on a Champions League decider

THE dust has settled, the scarves have been put away and Harry Redknapp’s suit has just about dried out. Tottenham will play in the Champions League next season; Manchester City will not.

It felt like a cup final when City and Spurs met at Eastlands last night – except with more at stake. Here are the 10 things I will remember from the evening.

Last on MOTD: Heading for Europe with Rudyard Kipling

BRIAN Laws gets a lot of stick (mainly from Sheffield Wednesday fans) and yet he still might lead Burnley into next season’s Europa League.