The prospect of becoming a hate figure in Scotland scared Alex Ferguson off the idea of becoming England manager.

There was only one moment, really, when Alex Ferguson appeared any way ruffled by questions about the contents of the book which itself caused such a stir yesterday.

British broadcaster ITV posted higher profits today as the resurgence of its Studios business helped overcome a flat advertising market.

THE popularity of The X Factor, Doc Martin and rugby’s World Cup tournament helped boost broadcaster ITV’s third-quarter revenues, the company said yesterday.

ITV boss Adam Crozier reported improved half-year profits today as he signalled an end to the lean years for the company’s production arm.

Coronation Street is to be completely rebuilt as ITV announced plans today to create a huge new production complex.

ITV said the television advertising market continued to “recover strongly” after it reported a 16% year-on-year rise in ad revenues for the quarter to September 30.

BRITISH broadcaster ITV is to enter the pay-TV market to reduce its reliance on the traditional and often volatile advertising market.

ITV today confirmed plans for a pay-TV strategy to launch high-definition versions of its digital channels on Sky.

The British channel ITV is planning a massive big shake-up to boost revenue over the next five years, and is considering making viewers pay out for their favourite shows, including 'The X Factor', 'Britain's Got Talent', 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' and long-running soap 'Coronation Street'.

London: ITV, Britain’s biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster, said it longer-term outlook was highly uncertain after the election, although the World Cup would boost ad revenue in the second quarter by 22%.

The FTSE 100 Index plunged 4% in another panic-driven session today as world markets took a fresh battering from the Greek debt crisis.

Football Association board members are to hold an emergency meeting at noon today after being thrown into turmoil by the resignation of Ian Watmore as chief executive.

British broadcaster ITV today said it returned to annual profit with a £25m (€27.4m) surplus after plunging into the red by £2.7bn (€2.97bn) in 2008.

Adam Crozier will be paid £15m (€17.3m) as the chief executive of ITV if he can turn around the fortunes of the broadcaster, it was reported today.

National strikes by British postal workers will go ahead tomorrow and Friday after hopes of reaching a last minute deal collapsed.

The Football Association were offered votes for bribes during their unsuccessful bid for the 2006 World Cup, according to former executive director David Davies.

Postal workers’ leaders today ratified a deal aimed at ending the bitter mail dispute, which has disrupted deliveries across the UK since the summer.

The union which represents postal workers will meet today to discuss wildcat strikes which have added to the disruption caused by last week’s national walkout.

The two sides in Britain's bitter postal dispute appear to have reached an agreement.

Mail misery looks set to continue after negotiations aimed at ending the postal dispute ended without any agreement and further strikes were announced.

A crippling national postal strike planned in the UK for tomorrow looks inevitable after last-ditch talks ended without agreement.

The British postal service Royal Mail increased its profits by 17% last year, triggering payments of more than £400 (€590) to 180,000 postal workers, the company announced today.

SO, after three months of short-listing, interviewing and bewildering farce, the FA at last have their man.

Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson believes England will be in a “very strong position” to mount a challenge to host the World Cup when the tournament next returns to Europe.

Should things not go to plan for England over the next 10 days, the issue of just how long Sven-Goran Eriksson will sta in the job are bound to be raised once again – along with just who would be in line to take over from the Swede.

The price of stamps in the UK will have to increase over the next few years as Britain's Post Office makes itself more efficient in the face of increased competition, the head of the Royal Mail warned today.

Virgin founder Richard Branson is the most popular business leader in the UK, a survey revealed today.

Trevor Brooking insisted that former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios would be a hard full-time act to follow as moves were afoot for the ex-England international to replace him on a caretaker basis.

Suggestions that the Royal Mail could be privatised were today dismissed by the British government.

Hopes of a breakthrough in the postal workers’ dispute faded tonight as union leaders and managers struggled to resolve a row which has crippled mail deliveries across Britain.

THE new supremo at the Football Association yesterday gave a cautious thumbs-up to the idea of Celtic and Rangers joining the English Premiership — provided there was general approval for the move.

New Football Association chief executive Mark Palios wants to hold a “sensible debate” over the availability of players for England internationals.

New Football Association chief executive Mark Palios is relishing the chance of taking charge at Soho Square even though he was only second choice for the job.

Former Football Association boss Adam Crozier has been appointed Royal Mail chief executive, it was announced today.

England skipper David Beckham insists the recent upheaval at the Football Association will have no effect on the players.

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON last night vowed to battle through the English Football Association crisis and carry on as boss — but warned he would not allow the new Professional Game Board to dictate his job.

The Football Association in England have appointed Nic Coward and David Davies as acting chief executives following the resignation of Adam Crozier last month.

Roy Keane tonight confirmed he will pay a record £150,000 (€235,000) fine and serve a five-match domestic ban after deciding not to appeal after the Football Association found him guilty on two counts of bringing the game into disrepute last month.

Football Association vice-chairman Frank Pattison has resigned, becoming the second high-profile figure to leave the governing body in less than a week.

Sven-Goran Eriksson is not about to quit as England coach, with the Swede‘s agent and the Football Association uniting to claim it was “business as usual” at Soho Square.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has admitted he is worried about the motives of the Football Association powerbrokers.