The "best of English football" was on display last week when Man City "beat Liverpool in a thrilling 2-1 victory," according to Matthew Garrahan of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Off the pitch, the league and its 20 member clubs "are grappling with a leadership vacuum" after the "preferred choice" to succeed long-term CEO Richard Scudamore "pulled out last month." The unexpected withdrawal of Susanna Dinnage "has left the league scrambling to find a new successor" to Scudamore. Tim Davie, the head of BBC Studios -- and "the frontrunner" when Dinnage was appointed -- "is back in contention, according to people briefed on the process," although he is known to "have been disappointed to have missed out first time." It is "unclear why" Dinnage, who did not return requests for comment, withdrew. One person who knows her said that she may have "underestimated" the high profile that comes with a job that is "in the full media glare for nine months of the year;" another said she had "unfinished business" at Animal Planet, the Discovery network that she runs. Whether the league "revisits the candidates of a few weeks ago or goes for someone completely new," the next CEO "will be under pressure to maintain media rights revenues" at the level established by Scudamore (FT, 1/4).
