SO JAMIE CARRAGHER has been told he will have to wait until the summer to hear whether his contract will be extended. Yet more confirmation that George Harrison was right: All Things Must Pass. But this is not about Carra’s career, more about cultural focus.

At one time, football was totally immersed in community spirit. Whether that was geographical, religious or simply hereditary, there was a common bond linking those on the terraces with those on the pitch and, to some degree, those in the boardrooms. Today, the growth of the Premier League is making it harder and harder to identify the binding spirit unless you accept the irony, like the Mancs Red Knight campaign, of spectators bonding to demonstrate against the ownership!

Carra’s news is the latest confirmation that the focus is now definitely away from the streets of Anfield, or indeed Bootle. Does this matter? Depends on how you like your football, but the idea that Carra’s Sports Bar may be one of the last we see of local legends investing in local business takes us to pondering the loss of future role models. Local heroes seen walking the streets. People that others can look to and say if they did it, so can we.

Having built the old Mersey Television, which became acknowledged as a global centre of excellence, I find it difficult to understand why there are suddenly no more Carras, Stevie G’s, MacManamans, Fowlers or even Michael Owens popping up at Anfield. How come the Reds dominated Europe without any Europeans?

Well, actually, after seeing what various producers have done to my programmes over the years, I know exactly why. It is about cultural focus. When, for instance, Brookie was at its best, it was when the producers, especially local lad, Mal Young, were focused on the central theme that the programme was set in Liverpool. It played to a national audience. Used national talent. Dealt with national issues, but it derived its strength and spirit from Liverpool.

And the writers that were also born and bred here. The focus was on finding great talent, locally.

So, when producers thought London, we lost Scouse accents. Think French, you get French. Think Spanish, you get Spanish. Think Scottish you get Shankly and, er, well, Fergie! So the tale that such a loyal and committed, and great player, like Jamie Carragher is told to wait is both a sad reflection of passing times, but yet another warning on the road to a digital future. When you start thinking global, too often you overlook the local.