I bet Colin Bell a fiver on condensation running down the coach window. I lost. I have no idea who won the match that day

So Rodney, you must be eating your words about Wigan…

Well, I always put my money where my mouth is! But what I’ve actually been saying is, ‘What’s the point of Wigan in the top flight? What’s the point of a team that only pulls 11,000 fans?’ They’ll sell out maybe a maximum of five times. Wigan’s the sort of place where you see tumbleweed blowing down the high street. But fair play, Wigan started very well. Paul Jewell is a terrific manager. He’s a bit like Arsene Wenger: proof that you don’t have to be a good player to be a good manager.

Who are you backing to win and each-way in the Prem?

My original choice was Arsenal. But that’s why we love football – when you think you understand a situation, it all changes. Now it’s Chelsea to win, with the usual suspects to follow. Some people are mentioning Man City as a top-five, but I just can’t see it. They’re more like top seven. I fancy Newcastle to make a late run, if they can stay injury free. Portsmouth are a great shout to go down, with ‘Reggie’ Perrin the first manager to get the bullet [see p10]. I don’t fancy Everton to go down – David Moyes is too good a manager to let that happen. I’ve bet on Arsene Wenger leaving Arsenal. Another three or four dodgy games and you might see him popping up at Real Madrid.

Are fans and the media right to attack the entertainment factor of the Premiership?

They certainly can be. There are so many ordinary teams these days. I mean, Wigan versus Blackburn or Aston Villa versus Wigan! I’d rather stare into the sun! The kick-off times don’t help the situation either – when I played it was 3pm and everybody knew the table. There are only a couple of players who go out to entertain – Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney, but not many others. It’s different today… there are fewer Besties, Ginolas, Gascoignes.

What’s your view on the proposed salary cap?

It’ll never work. It’s a great theory, but all the great players will clear off to Spain.

Which other sports do you bet on?

Racing and basketball. My biggest win came on Blue Boy at Sandown at some corporate day a few years ago. I got on at 20/1 and won two grand. But winning hasn’t always been so easy… in the early Nineties I did a series of after-dinner speeches with George Best. After four or five of them, we got the fee and went to a casino. I got cleaned out to the tune of £3,000! Bestie won at roulette by playing the lines. I also go to the Palm Beach casino in Mayfair sometimes and I play poker online. I do okay at the low levels, but when there’s more money on the table I go to pieces.

Any novelty bets?

On the Man City coach back from West Brom one year, I bet Colin Bell a fiver on condensation drops running down the window. I lost. I’ve no idea who won the match that day.

How’s life at Talksport?

Sensational. There’s a young mentality at Talksport. Of course, I miss the humour and the personal relationship with Jeff Stelling at Sky but I couldn’t have ended up in a better place. And it’s full of punters!