I’ve known Eric Bielderman for years, a lovely guy and a seriously knowledgeable football reporter.
He lives in Paris.
I was very surprised when Eric called and wanted to talk about Arsenal’s future ownership for a major article in L’Equipe’s Saturday magazine.
I don’t seek the spotlight. I’m a shy character who backs into the spotlight very occasionally. Yes, it’s true that I succumbed to those three girls from German TV who had me in the garden talking about Jens Lehmann before the World Cup.
But I tried to get out of Newsnight, talking about Sven-Goran Eriksson, by telling the producer that they should really get somebody younger, less scruffy and less controversial. Then I went round the corner to buy some milk and a newspaper and bumped into a friend, who invited me in for a cup of tea and I told him I’d been asked to do Newsnight and he said, “Oh Myles – you should have done it !” An hour later I wandered home and Jan said, “Newsnight have phoned twice. They’re sending a car for you at 9.30.”
Eric Bielderman came round last Saturday morning and we had two hours together and it was wonderful to see him again.
If you are reading this in France, the article comes out tomorrow, I think.
I’m not extensively quoted, but other people are.