The Score: James Hird will not join Garry Lyon at SEN next year

JAMES Hird’s return from exile isn’t going to be with SEN. The station’s management decided it was “too risky” to pair him with Garry Lyon.

James Hird won’t be on SEN. Picture: Getty Images

JAMES Hird’s return from exile isn’t going to be with SEN.

While the former Essendon coach had a number of discussions about a special comments role, the station’s management decided it was “too risky” to have football’s two bad boys on the books given Garry Lyon will be the face of SEN next year.

Lyon, who is making his own comeback to the game after battling mental illness, will host the new-look breakfast show alongside Tim Watson and Hamish McLachlan starting in January.

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There was some concern about McLachlan’s availability with Channel Seven raising concerns but influential manager Craig Kelly, who looks after both stars, has apparently smoothed the waters.

Hird and Lyon would have been a blockbuster pairing on SEN’s Friday night coverage but there was a sense that it might be too much to have both controversial figures returning together.

It’s understood the station may look at revisiting the situation in 12 months time.

James Hird won’t work with SEN next year. Pic: Michael Klein

Triple M had sounded out Hird initially but the Brownlow Medallist is now likely to reassess his options.

Hird was a star media performer with Fox Footy before taking on the Essendon coaching job in 2011.

With Hird out of the equation, SEN is yet to make a decision on Lyon’s partner in the primetime Friday night slot.

Collingwood premiership coach Mick Malthouse did the role this season but he is moving to Saturday’s next year.

GOLF CHANGES

CHANGE is coming at the top of Australian golf.

The word doing the rounds in recent weeks has PGA chief executive Brian Thorburn leaving after five-and-a-half years in the job.

It’s understood his contract has not been renewed and this weekend’s Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast will be his last.

Thorburn came from a sports management background before working as the commercial director of the Australian Rugby Union.

His reign in golf hasn’t been smooth with some believing he’s been one of the main stumbling blocks of a proposed merger between the PGA and Golf Australia.

England players are in for a change. Picture: AAP

CREAM IS THE NEW WHITE

England are going back to the future with its cricket kit, returning to old-fashioned creams as its Test-match attire next year.

Trouble started when Adidas became the suppliers back in 2008 and went with an all-white strip which also prominently displayed sponsor logos.

A change to American firm New Balance next year is set to see the team’s Three Lions logo restored to the centre of an old-fashioned cream cable knit sweater with no logos in sight.

THE WHISPER

Which former champion has quit his weekly pay TV show after being gagged for criticising the sport?