Hoey suspense as Blair looks north

Hoey hopes to keep the sport's minister's job; Syed set for second chance; Bright sparks not in evidence; Splitting image on thin ice

Kate Hoey faces a worrysome weekend as she waits by her mobile phone, hoping Tony Blair will press his recall button. The choice of Tessa Jowell to replace Chris Smith as Secretary of State at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, would, at first glance, seem to enhance Hoey's hopes of keeping the sport's minister's job. She and Jowell are on friendly terms and would work well together, but insiders say the appointment could actually conspire against her. "Blair's put one of his babes in charge so he'll probably want a bloke as sports minister to keep the balance, a nitty-gritty nortther for preference," said one. If that proves to be so it's not only a shame, but shameful. Most in sport think Hoey has done exceptionally well; it's only the mandarins at Millbank and in Whitehall, whose lack of knowledge about sporting issues is actually quite alarming, who don't. They don't like the fact that she's not a line-toer. What is apparent is that the government have no immediate intention of giving sport full Cabinet status. Yet the pleasant 53-year-old mother-of-two who will speak for it at Cabinet meetings is even even less of a sports person than was her predecessor, who has paid the price for the Dome and Wembley disasters. Which makes it all the more important that she should be supported by someone who who knows the score. Yesterday opinion was hardening on Hoey being replaced by her parliamentary aide, Andy Reed, the 37-year-old MP for Loughborough, though other names are in the ring. These include David Hinchcliffe, a "nitty gritty northerner", who has written a book on rugby league and chairs the sport's parliamentary committee; Derek Wyatt, a former rugby union international; another northerner, Fraser Kemp (who he?) and Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South whose chief claim to sporting recognition seems to be that he is the parliamentary football team's goalkeeper. A safe pair of hands, maybe? Hardly spoilt for choice, are they? Which is why they should stick with Hoey, who has the unqualified backing of sport's governing bodies. Yesterday the Football Supporters' Association added their weight, calling on Blair to keep her. "Fans think Kate has done an excellent job," said chair Malclom Clarke. "She has been genuinely interested in our point of view and has shown a real understanding of the key issues facing football. If she is sacked, this will send out a very negative message about New Labour's intentions." Think about it, Mr Blair, and don't just listen to the mandarins.

Syed set for second chance

So it's back to ping pong for Britain's number one table-tennis player, Matthew Syed, after his unsuccesful attempt to outlob John Redwood in Wokingham. But he need not fret too much. Labour chiefs were impressed with his campaign (he upped the percentage of the vote despite a third-placed finish behind the Liberal Democrat) and he can expect to be nominated for a more winnable seat next time round. Future sports ministerial material here, surely.

So, too, is the ambitious footy-luvvie James Purnell, one of Blair's blue-eyed boys, who has taken over from the twice-overlooked ex-shadow minister Tom Pendry, as the newly-elected member for Stalybridge and Hyde. Pendry, chairman of the Football Foundation and a more accomplished left jabber than John Prescott (he was an Army champion), goes to punch his weight in the Lords.

Bright sparks not in evidence

Whose Bright idea was it to employ the ex-footballer Mark of that name to front up the BBC's coverage of the world amateur boxing championships? Step forward Jane Root, head of BBC 2. It has turned out to be rather less than a knockout, and Bright's glaring lack of knowledge and unsuitability for the role has left boxing people wincing. Apparently Root wanted to give the presentation a jazzier, more showbizzy image, which has not exactly pleased the BBC sports bosses who were rather hoping that after such a long absence from the ring they could at least get their coverage taken seriously. But when a capable pro like John Inverdale is overlooked for the role (he is said to be less than pleased), it is surely time the Director General Greg Dyke, once a boxing reporter himself, started to ask a few pertinent questions. The recorded transmissions from the Belfast bash have been inauspicious and ringside observers say that the two commentators, John Rawling and Jim Neilly, are barely on speaking terms after squabbles as to who should be doing what. Both are negotiating new contracts. The knowledgeable Rawling is the more experienced but Neilly, capable enough though no Harry Carpenter, seems to be hogging the mike.

Splitting image on thin ice

Torvill and Dean have been back where it all began, in Nottinghham, on a talent-spotting mission for British skating. They are seeking successors to themselves but it could be a fruitless journey. The sport of ice dancing (if, indeed that is what it is) is in danger of being from the Olympics ditched unless it cleans up its act. Worried that the sober-sided citizens of Salt Lake City may have to cover their eyes during next year's Winter Games, the International Skating Union have warned female competitors against using "undignified" moves such as upside-down splits and backward spread eagles. In other words too many of what the sport terms crotch shots are being picked up by the TV cameras. This has followed complaints from viewers and judges, one of whom says she is "fed up with women waving their asses in our faces". Points will now be deducted for all such offending moves. In T & D's day, of course, things were much more decorous, even if their gold medal-winning Bolero was regarded at the time as rather risqué. Skating's saucy routines are apparently more a turn-off than a turn-on and Britain's Courtney Jones, an ISU member and former ice dance champion, believes that this, plus the choice of "dismal music", could lead to its elimination. "So many people want to see ice dancing out of the Olympics and it will go out unless things change," he warns. Looks like a splits decision.

insidelines@independent.co.uk