Independent on Sunday, The: INSIDE LINES

Why Kid Khan doesn't need nudging by Naz

After falling to earth with a bump last week - though he did get up to win - young Amir Khan may regret not taking the plunge into professionalism when he reached 18 last December. Since returning from the Olympics with his silver medal he has been beseiged by promoters and while a couple of noughts may have been knocked off his value - more will follow should he fails to win the ABA senior title - there is little doubt he will continue to have his ear bent by some of the more avaricious people in the trade, but whose promotional expertise is limited. Perhaps he and his family should have heeded the advice of by far the most capable and experienced promoter of those now pursuing him. Frank Warren said at the time that Amir would have far harder fights staying amateur than he would in his early days as a pro. Disturbingly, but through no fault of his own, he is now attracting an unruly element of nouveau "fans", who could well undo the good his family and friends did in Athens. Moreover, he might also question the motives of some now trying to influence him. It seems that Naseem Hamed, who always talks a good comeback fight without ever putting on the gloves, is making himself busy around the Khan camp, yet his brother Riath, who latterly managed him, now admits he despises the boxing business. In Athens, Amir told me that while he admired Naz as a boxer, he had no time for him otherwise, yet is reported to have visited him in Sheffield. Amir must be allowed to adjust to his higher weight division, and he is still likely to turn professional with Warren by the summer. But for the moment it is time to leave the lad alone.

Has Cram's top job been scotched?

What busy days these are for Tessa Jowell's all-singing, all- dancing Department of Culture, Media and Sport, aka the spiritual home for the promotion of blackjack and binge drinking. It is now engrossed in ensuring all goes smoothly politically for London 2012's big exam-ination, for which Jowell is doing an admirable job. Doubtless her hectic schedule is the reason that no time has yet been found to formalise the appointment of a new chair for UK Sport. As we previously reported, ex-Olympian Steve Cram (pictured) has been in pole position, and would be an ideal choice, but such is the shilly-shallying that it is believed his installation may have been blocked. We hear the matter has now gone to Downing Street for a resolution. It is thought Sue Campbell may want to hang on to the job but more likely is pressure from a regional board. Cram chairs the English Institute of Sport but the name of accountant Alastair Gray, who chairs the Scottish body, is now in the frame. This is a game of unmusical chairs which strikes a discordant note.

London hope anti-media Ken won't see red

Ken Livingstone's renowned loathing of the "scumbag" media resurfaced last week in an unseemly exchange with a Jewish reporter who subsequently accused him of racism. So he will not be further enamoured of the Fourth Estate when he learns that the National Union of Journalists have made offices available for one of the groups opposing the London Olympic bid to hold a press conference tomorrow. "NoLondon2012" are one of several protest groups - the Evaluation Commission have agreed to meet a number of disaffected trades people who fear for businesses and jobs. Bid organisers must be on tenterhooks that the London mayor keeps his tongue in check when he meets Commission members this week. One, Australian Simon Balderstone, happens to be a journalist.

Government commitment to sport crucial, page 18

Suggestions that Martin Tyler had been ko'd by boxing commentator Ian Darke as Sky's main football man are wide of the mark, according to Darke himself. Nor, he insists, has he broken up Tyler's renowned double act with Andy Gray, said to be the cause of apparent coolness between Gray and himself.

"Nonsense," says Darke (pictured). "Martin is still getting his share of big games and Andy and I worked together happily for three seasons in the past." Although "Darkie" has made his name as Sky's boxing voice (and one that, refreshingly, tells it as it is), he began his career as a football commentator. But Sky's switch to Friday from Saturday as their major fight night has freed him up for more footy work. "There is no rivalry between Martin and myself. I certainly haven't gazumped him." So who gets the plum Carling Cup final on 27 February? Neither. Rob Hawthorne, a Carling regular, will hold the mike. But Darke has the Man Utd-Milan Champions' League clash next month, which suggests he is de facto numero uno.

While Cockney hearts have been uplifted by the view of former IOC vice-president Kevan Gosper that London is now "neck and neck" with Paris, it has been a vexing week for the main rivals.

Shortly after their Evaluaton Commission visit, Madrid suffered a potentially bid-damaging bomb blast; New York face a KO blow from Madison Square Garden which has made a counter-bid for the proposed Olympic Stadium site; and Paris have had to deny a report that they have done a Picketts Lock and pulled out of the 2009 world swimming championships, for which they never actually bid. But Moscow are cheekily wooing the IOC by sending members Valentine's cards tomorrow signed, of course, "From Russia with Love".

Insidelines@independent.co.uk

Exit Lines

Don't be silly. Only a Dame will do. What Ellen MacArthur claims the Queen (pictured) told the Prime Minister when he suggested she became a CBE... There was more decency in life, and football, in my day. Whether it is because we haven't had a war, I don't know. Jimmy Hill recalls when the grass was greener... If I told him I'd been to Tenerife, he'd say he had been to Eleven-erife! Former Chelsea player David Speedie on the one-upmanship of new Leeds chairman Ken Bates.