The root-and-branch revamp of Manchester United's scouting system will see up to 40 appointments around the globe in an initiative started by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

The wholesale changes from the tight-knit Sir Alex Ferguson era will see the academy and first-team talent identification operations merged to create a more efficient approach in order to attract the best prospects in world football.

Sports headhunters Nolan Partners are working with United in recruiting fresh scouts in every territory.

United's vice-chairman Ed Woodward (left) will oversee an expansion to the club's scouting network

Dutchman Henny de Regt has already been brought in to work with head of youth recruitment Derek Langley, while chief scout Jim Lawlor has been given admin support so he can concentrate fully on finding players.

United want to keep a greatly expanded scouting system in place whoever replaces current manager Louis van Gaal, so avoiding David Moyes' predicament of finding there was no accessible database of potential players when he took over from Ferguson.

Chelsea captain John Terry, despite all his off-field incidents, is especially popular with the girls in the academy teams and their parents.

The girls' sides used to be the poor relations at Chelsea's Cobham training ground, being based away from the facilities in the main complex.

But since Terry's daughter Summer started playing for Chelsea girls two years ago, he has ensured parents have access to teas and coffees while watching training and all girls receive packed lunches after matches.

John Terry has become popular with players and parents of the girls academy at Chelsea

The battle between Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins to be champion jump trainer helped demonstrate the poor prize-money in the sport.

Nicholls retained his title with his horses winning £2,439,563. But that amount is around what it is understood owner Rich Ricci spends on his racing operation every year, while JP McManus is believed to spend four times that annually on his 300-plus horses.

Effectively, big owners Ricci, McManus, Michael O'Leary and Graham Wylie bankroll jump racing and can never hope to recoup their expenditure.

Willie Mullins (left) and Paul Nicholls, pictured at Sandown, are competing to be racing's champion jump trainer

London marathon commentator John Inverdale, who makes his fair share of bloopers on air in his role as sports broadcaster, used former 10,000m world record-holder David Bedford as an example of a veteran athlete still running despite not having had all the advantages for his physical conditioning from advances in shoe technology.

This is the same David Bedford who can now only walk having had a full knee replacement in 2013.

Former 10,000m world record-holder David Bedford, pictured last year, had a full knee replacement in 2013

No equality at Lord's

Only at Lord's could MCC members sitting in the pavilion take priority over the players in the middle.

The blazers had reluctantly moved when Middlesex batsman Sam Robson complained they were behind the bowler's arm.

But when Robson asked for them to shift once more when another bowler came around the wicket, they refused.

And after MCC chief executive Derek Brewer became involved, the members returned to their original seating positions. It didn't affect Robson as he scored a double hundred.

Middlesex batsman Sam Robson, seen in action against Durham, complained about MCC members at Lord's

Anthony Fry, ex-chairman of the Premier League who suffered a massive stroke in March 2014 that had appeared terminal, was back watching the Manchester United–Everton semi-final at Wembley as a guest of the FA after making a remarkable recovery.

By downsizing their sponsorship of the Premier League from title backer to one of seven proposed second-tier supporters, Barclays will lose their rights next season to the manager of the month/year awards, although they will keep the player equivalent.

The PL will either administer the managers' accolades themselves or include it in another sponsorship agreement. Either way, there's a strong belief that both manager and players' awards should be given a revamp since the Barclays Player of the Season award has become an afterthought behind the Football Writers' and PFA ballots.

Lancashire, with the biggest fanbase in English county cricket, are exploiting a new reciprocal agreement with Notts and other counties.