Sir Ian Botham’s position as the stellar name among Sky’s cricket pundits looks to be in serious jeopardy.

Sky’s presenters and producers held a meeting recently without Botham and David Gower at which it was made clear the missing pair were no longer the main men of the station’s coverage as they have been for more than 20 years.

Gower, 59, already looks doomed, with Ian Ward replacing him as presenter for the England one-day series against Sri Lanka.

Sir Ian Botham (left) and David Gower (right) appear to be on the way out after over 20 years with Sky Sports

But Botham, 60, also appears on his way out after years in which his standing as England’s greatest all-rounder always made him the first name on the commentary team, irrespective of ability as a pundit.

Sky’s cricket leadership no longer feel his immense performances on the field warrant special privileges in the TV booth.

Meanwhile, the ECB are expected to go to tender next year with their new cricket packages despite the current deals running until 2019.

A number of the FA board have now voiced their dismay over the crass timing of departing FA chairman Greg Dyke in spelling out on the eve of England’s game against Slovakia what Roy Hodgson has to do to remain as England manager.

But Dyke’s indifference to protocol is demonstrated by his two sons meeting him in the lobby of England’s Saint-Etienne hotel before the Slovakia match at a time when the team base was supposed to be a tracksuit-only environment.

The FA admits Greg Dyke was wrong to say publicly comment on what would keep Roy Hodgson his job on the eve of England's game against Slovakia

It has been noticeable during Euro 2016 how Thierry Henry comes across as a much more assured, accomplished pundit for the BBC than he is on Sky.

The Arsenal legend likes working without the constraints of ad breaks on BBC and also enjoys speaking to a fellow star footballer in Gary Lineker, who brings the best out of him.

Henry often appears reticent on Sky, where he is under pressure to be outspoken.

Disgraced UEFA president Michel Platini, who did more than anyone to bring Euro 2016 to France, has reaffirmed his decision not to watch any of the games.

Platini, who has an open invitation from the French federation, said at the start he might change his mind later in the competition about not going to matches.

But he has told UEFA officials again that he will stay at his home in the south of France.

Michel Platini has chosen to continue to stay away from Euro 2016 despite an invite from the French federation

Justice for Marseille Brit

The National Police Chiefs Council have published 73 images of England fans wanted for questioning over the violence in Marseille.

Yet it appears the first English fan arrested has suffered a miscarriage of justice. The only evidence that led to Alex Booth, from Huddersfield, serving two months in prison was his admission that he had thrown his plastic beer cup in the air while drinking with his dad and uncle before the match against Russia.

The 20-year-old only wrote that because the French police had said a written apology for his actions would ensure he would be released from custody overnight. Instead he is stuck in a Marseille prison still in the clothes he was wearing when French riot police randomly picked him up for no apparent reason.

Harry Kane is the latest England player not prepared to divulge any news about the darts competition going on at their hotel base — as if it were a matter of Brexit-level importance.

‘Us players want to keep that to ourselves. You can ask every day,’ he said.

Just why a game of darts has become classified information remains one of the great mysteries of Euro 2016.

Harry Kane has remained tight-lipped about England players and their darts competition

It seems UEFA are doing their best to tarnish France’s world-class reputation for good food.

Rather than using the captive audience of Europe’s football media to showcase the country’s best food and drink — as they do at Champions League games in France — UEFA provide awful, over-priced junk food with not nearly enough staff to serve the long queues.