The former Blue Square PR man was clearly wrong to be so bold: The Sportsman, of course, has just folded.
So, what odds were there on Pownall securing himself a new job pretty quickly?
Soon after we leave a message on his phone asking just that, Henry Chappell, MD of Pitch PR, tells us he has recruited Pownall as group account director.
Pownall will start at the consumer/sports agency next Monday, focusing (naturally) on gaming industry clients.
'The sector's in serious need of some PR right now,' admits Pownall, referring to the woes of online gambling firms stateside.
Teased that his Sportsman tip was somewhat duff, Pownall laments: 'I was never a very good bookie... perhaps that's why I left Blue Square.'
