Well, I’m glad Andy Gray’s gone. Obviously, he’s made enough enemies at his workplace that Sky sanctioned the release of more damaging material to hang him out to dry, even if it meant taking out Andy Burton – not above belittling women, though not as poisonously – in the crossfire. Richard Keys talks about dark forces at work, failing to spot the irony of that comment regarding himself and Gray. Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand were slaughtered for far less on a radio show that initially drew only two complaints, but became a firestorm in the hands of the print media. Admittedly, they did it on air intentionally, but the cruelty stemmed from revenge for Andrew Sachs not keeping his appointments, but it was not sexist, racist or homophobic (the last pertinent in wake of Ross’s daughter’s declaration). The tipping point for Gray was the crude, intimidatory comment he made to a female employee amidst a lot of other men laughing that was released on YouTube. So Sky has made an effort to condemn sexism, but Keys has to go as well, which is looking more likely with the new YouTube material. His defiance, saying Karren Brady’s not returning his calls but at least the news take West Ham Utd off the back page, is particularly ill-judged. If someone had just slammed you in a condescending way for making exceptionally relevant points, well, would you want to speak to them?
The Chelsea fans won’t miss Gray, remembering his smug complacence in giving Man Utd the championship and relegating Chelsea to third, as they chanted Are you watching Andy Gray, Sacked in the morning and Andy Gray, Channel Five (I was narked as I, though not a Chelsea supporter, thought the Blues still had a chance, which proved correct). Nor will Barcelona fans, who he unfavourably compared to Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers. Indeed, he rubbished any team that was below the latitude of the Midlands. Thursday Europa League nights on Fiver will tide him over and keep going the alimony payments to five kids with four different women, in his new wilderness.