Tim and Gary

Tim Davie really didn't look comfortable or confident when doorstepped by the BBC's Nomia Iqbal in the States yesterday.  

Amongst many problems facing Tim over the next month, most are a consequence of an early decision as fully-appointed BBC DG.   He's tried to police the relationship with Gary Lineker and his love of plain-speaking Tweets on a one-to-one, mates basis, rather than by strict interpretation of some clear rules. (By the way, the 'rules' remain unclear - there's a difference between 'guidelines' and 'guidance'; and, if rules do come into play, there can still be differences about statements which some deem partial, and others  deem statements of the bleedin' obvious). 

Has he been leading this week's conversations with Gary, or are others involved ?  Mr Davie last night 'owned' the decision to suspend the presenter, but who 'owns' the consequences ?  It's not surprising, really, that many BBC Sport staff and regular freelances regard Gary as a good bloke, and shouldn't have been surprising that they've been prepared to take his side in this argument, rather than side with a DG making cuts. This morning, Sport managers will be trying to work out if they have enough vt editors, graphics operators and assistant producers to make a shortened Match of The Day, using the commentary provided to Premier League rights holders around the world. (Remember, the punditry is padding, to make more airtime out of the very expensive and limited minutes of real football). 

Thus for Bournemouth v Liverpool, you might hear Jim Proudfoot and Matt Holland; for Leicester City v. Chelsea, Andy Bishop and Matt Upson; for Spurs v Forest, Paul Gilmour and Efan Ekoku; for Everton v Brentford, Ian Crocker and James McFadden; Leeds v Brighton, Pien Meulensteen and Andy Walker; and Palace v Manchester City, Peter Drury and Lee Dixon.  Even some of them won't be happy about what's happened to Gary. 

There isn't much room for mediation here - we're already working at CEO to most expensive presenter-level. It's not beyond merchant banker Richard Sharp to have already made promises behind the scenes to 'deal with Lineker'.  Tim Davie says he understands positions taken by Alan Shearer and Ian Wright; will he take the same tolerant view of production and technical staff - will they have pay docked ?

This week we will see other rows - over BBC local radio, over the BBC Singers and orchestral cuts, over whether an environmental debate on iPlayer is fundamentally different to an environmental debate on BBC1 - continue. Mr Davie will be very lucky to make it in place to the next General Election.