ITV's raring for action

They certainly were important. But not, perhaps, for the reasons Barwick was thinking about.

A year or so on and Barwick is still confident about the coming season. But there is a slight caution about his manner. A wariness which comes from a year of criticism.

"The pressure was on big time last year," he said. "We were taking over from a historical institution. We did it at a time that aroused a lot of interest and did it in a way which delighted some and didn't appeal to others. We would like to think that we are approaching this season with an air of quiet confidence and that the programme is moving in the right direction.

"We listened to the public carefully and will now concentrate on providing the best action.

"Innovation for the sake of it will never beat action on the screen."

Once again Barwick starts a season having to fend off claims that his front-man, Des Lynam, is not happy with life at ITV. There have been reports Gabby Logan is being lined up as a replacement if Des decides working Saturday nights is no longer for him.

Barwick dismissed the stories as rubbish and added: "Des could not be more happy. He had a terrific World Cup and really got stuck in during the Premiership, especially when all the attacks got very personal about him. He managed that whole affair with the dignity and professionalism I have come to expect from him and he is gagging for the season to start. He has probably hit enough golf balls and he is now looking forward to a football being kicked in earnest.

"Des is our senior football presenter. When it comes to the time when he is no longer our senior football presenter, someone else will do it. It's premature at this stage to say who that will be and when that will happen."

One seat which will need filling now, however, is the one vacated by top pundit Terry Venables who has gone back to the coal face as Leeds United's new manager.

Barwick fully understands Venables' decision and is hopeful he will still be a regular on ITV screens as an analyst during the channel's Champions League coverage.

He said: "The contribution Terry made to The Premiership last year was terrific, his contribution during the World Cup was the finest of any pundit across all channels. When he decided, rightly I think, to take the managerial reins at Leeds, it was a situation where he came to see us expecting us to have a view.

"But it's right and proper when you see a job of that potential fall into your lap you take it. I can understand why he wants to give it another go. We have still got a contract with Terry but we know what his day job is now. He will still be available to us in the Champions League, depending on how Leeds do in the UEFA Cup."

After one of the most exciting Premiership title races ever, Barwick knows last season is going to be a tough act to follow.

But he is certain the coming campaign will be just as absorbing.

"That's the fun of it," he said. "We just don't know who's going to win the title. Arsenal were terrific last season, if ever a team came of age and deserved to win the title it was in that run-in.

"Manchester United are not going to sit back and let that happen too often while Liverpool have bought interestingly and intelligently. Plus we always know a Chelsea or a Leeds with Terry in charge are going to be pushing to get into that top three. Meanwhile at the bottom it will be the usual mad scramble it always is."

Barwick will just be relieved if people are talking more about the football and less about his programme.