text: Protecting the FA Cup prize money is the biggest reason the FA is prepared to give away what amounts to almost title sponsorship of the tournament to Emirates Airlines. The proposed £30million, three-year contract for an Emirates FA Cup, revealed by Sports Agenda, gives the FA the resources to ensure the monies received by the clubs for progressing in the world’s most famous club knockout tournament. The figures range from £1,150 for winning the extra preliminary round through to the £1.8million either Aston Villa or Arsenal — on a par with the Wimbledon singles champions — will receive for lifting the trophy on May 30. Aston Villa will face the holders Arsenal in this season's final at Wembley Stadium . Should Arsenal repeat their 2014 FA Cup triumph, they stand to pocket £1.8million in prize money . The numbers will not register for Premier League clubs awash with TV money but £18,000 for winning a first-round Cup match would make a lot of difference to a non-League club. And the FA Cup fund — like the FA Trophy and Vase budget — was very likely to be raided before the Emirates deal to fund the £30m-a-year priorities of FA chairman Greg Dyke’s England Commission which centre on coaches and facilities that have seen all FA departments asked to make 15 per cent cuts. FA chairman Greg Dyke’s England Commission is focusing on coaches and facilities . Frank Arnesen, the original technical director in the Premier League, was one of the delegates at the first sporting directors summit — co-founders include Joe Royle’s son Darren — held at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Wednesday. And Arnesen, who worked in the role at Tottenham and Chelsea, believes the position is now an integral part of a modern football club provided the owner agrees. While at Chelsea, Arnesen tried to sign three Leeds youngsters resulting in chairman Ken Bates making an official complaint about an illegal approach. Chelsea paid £5m in compensation. Ironically, one of that trio, Danny Rose, who decided to stay at Elland Road at the time, is now in the England squad. Arnesen said: ‘I’m delighted for Danny. He was a real talent from the start.’ Tottenham defender Danny Rose (right) competes for possession with Manchester United's Juan Mata . Sky staff have no doubts the £4.2billion spend on Premier League rights is responsible for the latest huge cost-cutting exercise — an ‘Agility and Flexibility’ strategy delivered to 600 production services personnel this week that is expected to result in at least 70 redundancies. Operations director Darren Long, now nicknamed David Brent for the way he delivered news of job losses dressed up as changes in working patterns, was heckled for refusing to take questions. Sky say this planning started long before the PL tender. Meanwhile, those heading for Sky’s exit door after the consultation exercise will be delighted to know mediocre £4m-a-year pundit Thierry Henry paid for his private jet flight to the Sunderland v Newcastle match out of his own pocket. Sky pundit Thierry Henry (centre) paid for his own private jet to the recent Sunderland vs Newcastle derby . The fallout from the Emirates FA Cup deal included former Minister for Sport Richard Caborn labelling the deal ‘commercialism gone mad’. This is the same out–of-touch Caborn who failed in a bid to become FA chairman and is still disliked by FA councillors after telling blazers they were ‘not fit for purpose’. However, even FA diehards including the traditionalist who told broadcasters there would never be a 5.30pm Cup final kick-off while he had ‘a hole in his a***’, accept sponsorships are critical for FA finances. Former Minister for Sport Richard Caborn has branded the FA Cup Emirates deal ‘commercialism gone mad’ GILES CAN TAKE TOP JOB . Ashley Giles hardly merits a mention for the England director of cricket role for which former captain Andrew Strauss is front-runner. But Giles is the most qualified after stints as an England coach and director of cricket for Lancashire, while he is also halfway through the part-time two-year Masters of Sport Directors degree at University of Manchester. Also part of the audience at the directors’ summit was former England team director Andy Flower, who is now happy to stay in the background running the cricket academy at Loughborough. David Sharpe, 23-year-old Wigan chairman and grandson of Dave Whelan, loves to socialise with the team, especially manager Gary Caldwell. But the pair’s celebration night out in Manchester bar Panacea after Caldwell’s first win as boss against Brighton on April 18 was somewhat premature. A week later they lost at home to Wolves and on Tuesday were relegated to League One.
target: The proposed £30million gives the FA the resources to ensure the monies received by the clubs for progressing in the tournament .
  Figures range from £1,150 for winning an extra preliminary round game to £1.8million for being crowned champions .
  Sky's Agility and Flexibility’ strategy is set to result in 70 redundancies .