UNDER the BBC's plans to radically reshape the corporation, it is understood that the commentary of live matches at a local level is one of the things under specific threat.

Local radio such as BBC Tees and BBC Newcastle are to lose 4.2per cent of its budget and concentrate much of its focus on improving peak-time shows such as breakfast and mid-morning.

The blueprint was revealed on Thursday, when it also became apparent the commentary names that football fans from across the region have followed for years could be facing changing times.

Alastair Brownlee, Nick Barnes and Mick Lowes have been following Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle United for years, home and away, but under the new proposals that may not be the case for much longer.

It has been suggested in the plans that local BBC radio stations will instead share commentaries, meaning an away match for a North-East team - including those that Ivan Ash (Hartlepool) or Ray Simpson (Darlington) currently cover for BBC Tees - will instead be covered by someone else.

And when one of the North-East's clubs play at home, the likes of Brownlee will have to take on a more neutral tone instead.

Much will depend on the decisions which are taken after the consultations after December 21, but it is understood the budgets will have to be cut in other areas for the commentaries to remain as they are now.

ASIDE from the commentaries, the BBC's cuts are also likely to have a direct impact on one of the finest North-East sporting events of the calendar: The Great North Run.

The blueprint does not allow for the country's ‘crown jewel' sporting events - like Wimbledon and the Grand National - to be affected by the changes, but what that means is those underneath are under greater threat.

And the Beeb's coverage of the Great North Run in September each year may have to be one of those events significantly scaled back to help save £670m a year by 2016-17. You can register your thoughts on the BBC plans by emailing dqf.consultation@bbc.co.uk

THE nature of the differences between Sky and BBC were obvious on Thursday at Hartlepool United's weekly press conference.

BBC Tees reporter James Mountford did his bit for radio and Look North presenter Jeff Brown was also there when Pools boss Mick Wadsworth spoke at the same time as the much-publicised BBC cuts were being announced.

Tomorrow's game is televised live, so Sky were well represented. They had a reporter and cameraman from Sky Sports News, as well as a producer. A reporter and cameraman turned up for Sky Sports, and shortly afterwards a two-man team arrived to interview Wadsworth for their Football League Show.

As Sky had seven representatives for the same event, Brown both filmed and interviewed Wadsworth before heading back to the Newcastle office to edit, produce and present his own piece.

THE Football Association have recognised Chelsea for having the best disciplinary record during the 2010-11 season, while Sunderland's supporters have been commended.

The game‘s governing body have given Chelsea's foundation a cheque for £30,000, while also giving Sunderland a £20,000 one for the behaviour of their fans.

Watford picked up the 2011 Respect and Fair Play Award for their disciplinary record in the Championship and £10,000 was given to their community trust, with Rochdale given the same amount.

Dale are to use the money on their young players and improving the club‘s sports science facilities.

A very rare item of Roker Park ephemera is to be sold at the forthcoming Methuselah football memorabilia auction in Middlesbrough next month.

The Edwardian match ticket, for Sunderland's division one game against Bury on January 25th 1908, was issued for Ephriam "Dusty" Rhodes' benefit match.

Born in South Bank near Middlesbrough, full-back Rhodes played 114 games for Sunderland between 1902 and 1908 before moving to Brentford as player / manager.

Methuselah's John Wilson said: "It's very rare indeed to see tickets which are over a century old and I'm sure this item will generate a good deal of interest."

The sale which includes many other North-East related items such as 1930s/40s/50s programmes, World Cup 1966 material, autographs and match tickets is to be held at the Marton Hotel and Country Club in Middlesbrough on Thursday, November 3 at 1pm. Further information can be found on www.methuselahltd.com