The Sports Agents

This week on The Sports Agents...From sneaking a disguised Novak Djokovic into a team talk, to lessons from Ben Stokes and the LIV/PGA divide, we chatted to European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for an exclusive interview (02:15). One day Jim Ratcliffe said Manchester United were on track to be 'bust by Christmas', and the next they announced plans for a £2bn stadium... so we asked Professor of Football Finance at the University of Liverpool, Kieran Maguire, how that makes sense (08:45). Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Sarah Storey... lots of famous sportspeople have tried switching sports. We got into what that's like with double Olympic champion Jade Jones, who's swapping taekwondo for boxing. We also chatted to Usain Bolt's football coach, Mike Mulvey (16:30). And comedian Adam Hills chatted to us about his new role as President of the Rugby Football league, which seems to involve a big gold chain, hearing stories from his Ukrainian counterpart and spending his spare time at the Para-Standing Tennis World Championships (21:30). Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

As double Olympic champion Jade Jones recently announced she's swapping taekwondo for boxing, Gabby and Mark discuss what it's like to switch sports. Many have tried it - Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Louis Rees-Zammit, Petr Cech, Ash Barty, Sarah Storey... but not all successfully.Jade Jones joins us in the studio to tell us how she's resisting the urge to kick her opponents rather than punch them, why she chose boxing and how far she hopes to go in her new sport (06:45). And Usain Bolt's football coach at the Central Coast Mariners, Mike Mulvey, tells us what Bolt was like at training, how he did in the sprints and why football might not have been the right sport for the eight-time Olympic champion (22:30). Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producers: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

A special bonus episode as Manchester United announce their new £2bn, 100,000-seater stadium, the day after Sir Jim Ratcliffe said they were on track to be bust by Christmas! So, how on earth are the club going to afford it? And were they really going bust? We ask Professor of Football Finance at the University of Liverpool, Kieran Maguire. And we hear thoughts on the design and whether the five-year timescale is feasible from Marcel Ridyard, Associate Director at Manchester-based architects AFL, who built the stadium for the Qatar World Cup final and the Etihad, joins us. Plus, Mark and Gabby give their thoughts on getting rid of Old Trafford and the big interview with Sir Jim Ratcliffe that's been making the headlines. Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producers: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

A month out from the Masters and what always feels like the beginning of the golf season we speak to European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. Why did he put Novak Djokovic in a disguise? What tips did Ben Stokes give him? And how is it managing the divide between LIV and the PGA? (07:40)Comedian and host of The Last Leg, Adam Hills, joins us to talk about his new role as President of the Rugby Football League. What was it like meeting his Ukrainian counterpart who's fighting in the war? And how has he also competed at the para-standing tennis world championships (we hear he picked a good partner!)? (27:50) Plus we have a weekend debrief on Man United's Bruno Fernandes, the Six Nations and Lauren Price becoming unified world champion. (01:45)Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producers: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

This week on The Sports Agents...Imagine flying on EasyJet and seeing the men's team on private jets. That's one of the many gaps the England women's team experienced before Baroness Sue Campbell stepped in and five years later, the women won the Euros. One of the greatest trailblazers in UK sport joins us for International Women's Day (02:15).After Emma Raducanu spoke out about crying when she saw her stalker at a match, we found out what it's like to have a stalker with former GB middle distance runner Sabrina Sinha (08:45). Did you know North Korea show the Premier League? They do it in a very strange way, as Martyn Williams from 38 North, a US-based think-tank analysing North Korea, explained. (15:30)And we've just turned one! We celebrate our first anniversary by picking our favourite moments from the last year. (20:15) Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

For International Women's Day, Gabby and Mark are joined by a woman who has been one of the biggest game changers in transforming UK sport, Baroness Sue Campbell. How did she get a whole class of children smoking in the toilets to engage in sport? How did she transform UK sport to win a record medal tally at London 2012 Olympics? And what led up to the moment when Chloe Kelly jumped into her arms celebrating winning the women's Euros? Sue has used sport to change lives and never taken no for an answer. (07:19)It turns out North Korea shows the Premier League... but in the most bizarre way. Martyn Williams from 38 North, the US-based think tank analysing North Korea, is with us to explain more. (38:11)Plus, we catch up on the Champions League drama from Arsenal's seven-goal wonder to Alisson's brilliance for Liverpool. And you pick your favourite moments from the past year as the show turns one! Sue Campbell's book, 'The Game Changer', is out now here Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producers: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

No doubt you saw the footage of Emma Raducanu, who’s still only 22 years old, crying on court after a spotting a stalker in the crowd in Dubai. This week she’ll get increased security by an ex-CIA agent for Indian Wells but what is it like to go through that? Gabby and Mark are joined by Sabrina Sinha, a promising GB runner who feared for her safety and even moved away from her sport after being a victim of stalking. (12:06)After a number of high-profile cases, we discuss how sport can tackle the issue with Fiona Tomas, Sports Reporter for The Telegraph. (29:02)After Man United’s FA Cup exit we reflect on the one side of the club where things are going right! And check out these marathon times from 51-year-old Paula Radcliffe... and Harry Styles. Plus it’s our first anniversary! Join us as we look back on some of our favourite moments and let us know yours - thesportsagents@global.com If you’ve been a victim of stalking you can call the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300 or use the online ‘Am I Being Stalked’ tool on the Suzy Lamplugh Trust website. Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producers: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

This week on The Sports Agents...The first refugee to win an Olympic medal, Cindy Ngamba, joined Gabby and Mark before her professional boxing debut to talk about her incredible story from a shock arrest to the hilarious moment she discovered boxing (03:00). The story of fleeing Afghanistan and getting no support from cricket's governing body (the ICC) with Afghanistan women's cricketer, Firooza Amiri, and international cricket journalist Alison Mitchell (09:00). Former England women's football captain Steph Houghton talked about how she helped pioneer the rise of women's football from £4,000 per year salaries to winning the Euros and beating World Champions Spain this week (13:30). And we reveal our karaoke songs... Mark's wasn't what we expected! (22:15) Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

As Liverpool swept Newcastle aside last night (in what Gabby fears was a frightening preview of next month's League Cup final) they went 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League - It's only February, but is there any jeopardy left this season? Former England Captain Steph Houghton joined Mark & Gabby the morning after the Lionesses exacted a little World Cup final revenge over Spain, days on from Luis Rubiales' conviction. (09:28)Plus, why Conor Benn ended up with egg on his face - literally - at the face-off for April's family feud against Chris Eubank Jr (05:47) and you'll never guess Chappers' go-to Karaoke number! (31:42)Steph's book 'Leading from The Back' is available hereExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producers: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

As the England men’s cricket team prepare to face Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy - despite pressure from MPs to boycott the game in protest over the Taliban's treatment of women - Firooza Amiri from the Afghanistan women's cricket team reveals the details of her daring escape, playing cricket in exile and the hypocrisy of the women's national side not being recognised by the ICC. International cricket journalist, Alison Mitchell, from the BBC's Test Match Special and Stumped podcast, joins us to tell the story she's been following since the start. Plus, details of the latest chapter in the European referees crisis, after Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic became the first foreign referee to take charge of a Turkish top-flight game (between Galatasaray and Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce) following several controversies in Turkish football over the past 18 months.Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producers: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!