Darrell Currie has hit back at Neil Doncaster tonight after the SPFL chief praised Sky Sports. The BT Sport presenter, who is often seen marshalling Chris Sutton, Ally McCoist and co covering Scottish teams has called Doncaster out as being ‘pathetic’ for claiming BT haven’t give enough love to the Scottish game.
Doncaster gave an interview – before the Coronavirus pandemic took hold – to the Price of Football podcast in which he praised the deal that will see Sky Sports take exclusive rights to the Scottish game.
Doncaster praised the broadcasters for trying to help promote Scottish football in a backhanded dig at BT, who have jointly held the rights with Sky since 2012.
“Sky say they are focusing on working with us to promote the Scottish game hand-in-hand as a good partner should.
“So let’s keep an open mind. I think we will see the Scottish game given the profile and coverage it deserves next year by Sky Sports.”
Doncaster was less subtle as he took a dig at BT, claiming that due to the rights being shared they haven’t pulled their weight with regards to promoting Scottish football.
“Since then rights have been shared so it’s perhaps no surprise the broadcasters haven’t given it the love they show other leagues.
“I’m confident we will see a sea change in the approach with Sky taking up the reigns exclusively.”
The irony of this is that most Scottish football supporters, regardless of team, will tell you that BT’s coverage has been brilliant in stark contrast to Kris Boyd and Kris Commons’ 30 min cameo before games.
All the pundits and presenters used by BT Sport are constantly praising the Scottish game on social media and doing extra programming when possible in aid of the Scottish game.
Despite money being greater for the deal, fans would have preferred not to have Boyd and co returning to their screens exclusively as Sky have shown nothing but ambivalence to the Scottish game.
Darrell Currie responded strongly to the claims made by BT on Twitter, prompting many fans to support his work.
“Totally disrespectful from Doncaster here. To suggest BT Sport haven’t given the SPFL the ‘love they show other leagues’. Absolutely pathetic – we’ve given everything to our coverage.”
Currie also retorted that in person, Doncaster had praised the work done by him and his team in promoting the game, sparking calls against Doncaster for being pathetic.
“Also, he’s told us in person how much he’s enjoyed our work.
Pathetic.”
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