Soccer AM implements a continental presenting structure to halt its fall down ratings table

THE DIRECTORS of Sky One's Soccer AM have recruited a Director of Banter as part of a controversial continental-style restructuring of the programme's management. The appointment is designed to tackle falling ratings, and help make the show a bigger player in the lucrative worldwide Saturday morning television market.

The new Director of Banter John Power (who previously held similar roles with Cast, The La's and Newcastle United) will be responsible for recruitment of all new jokes, and will overhaul the programme's Wetherspoons pubs scouting network in an attempt to unearth new bawdy comments.

Presenters Helen Chamberlain and Max Rushden will still have tactical control over jokes, but have blasted the appointment arguing that it undermines their positions.

Chamberlain told Match of the Day magazine: "I am being forced to work with jokes I don't want, while the jokes I ask for are not being provided for me.

"I said at the start of the transfer window that I wanted a set of puns about Rafa Benitez's stupid beard and what do I get? A double entendre about Tony Pulis' long balls. Even I can't work with that material."

The issue came to a head yesterday when Rushden discovered that Power had offered an anecdote about going for a session with the boys from Kasabian to bitter BBC rivals Football Focus. This is despite the fact that the presenter had planned to build the show around the story in coming years.

Seasoned viewer Terry Folan has written to the directors to complain: "Soccer AM has always been built on the solid principles of plenty of clapping, bands that sound like The Enemy, and lots of input from the legendary Tubes.

"Power's got no idea about banter, the man doesn't even appreciate fitties twirling about in tight replica shirts, let alone know when you're supposed to shout 'NUTS!' at footage of a League One player getting roasted."