Minnesota Wild have announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Frank Buonomo as Senior Director, Team Operation and Business Integration for the Minnesota Wild.

In this newly created position, Frank will report directly to Chuck Fletcher and be responsible for organizing all aspects of team travel and serve as the main liaison between the players and organization including the coordination of player appearances for community and corporate partners.

Frank comes to the Wild with an extensive background in hockey having worked in a variety of roles with the New York Rangers, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins. He most recently served as Director of Marketing for Octagon Hockey. Frank begins his new role with the Wild today.

The team also announced today that Aaron Sickman has been promoted to Director of Media Relations. Aaron will continue to report directly to Chuck Fletcher and serve as the primary media contact for the team and oversee all media relations activities for the hockey operations department. Carly Peters will continue in her role as Media Relations Coordinator.

The Wild also promoted Ryan Stanzel to Manager of Digital Content. In his new role, Ryan will oversee and implement the Wild’s social media and digital content efforts, including integration of corporate partners into web, social and mobile app initiatives. In addition, he will continue to coordinate Wild corporate communications. Ryan will report directly to John Maher, Vice President of Brand Content and Communication.

Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have officially declared an interest in joint hosting Euro 2020, along with surprise candidate Georgia.

The countries have told UEFA that they would be interested in bidding to host the European Championships with Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland looking for a joint bid while Georgia seeking a solo bid. So far Turkey are the only other nation to inform UEFA that they want to want host the tournament.

A source close to UEFA has confirmed to the Press Association that a written expression of interest from the three ‘Celtic’ countries has been submitted to the European governing body. Georgian Minister of Sports Lado Vardzelashvili and president of the Georgian Football Federation Zviad Sichinava officially confirmed the bid on Tuesday.

Any other declarations of interest must be submitted by midnight on Tuesday.

Bidders would need to put forward up to 10 stadiums to host matches in the European Championships, which is being expanded from 16 teams to 24 from 2016.

Scotland and Wales would struggle to provide that number of stadiums to satisfy UEFA requirements but Ireland’s involvement would cover the shortfall.
The formal declaration of interest does not commit the Celtic countries to proceeding with a bid, however – a decision is not due to be taken by UEFA for 18 months.

The countries have not fared well in the past in bidding for the tournament. Scotland and the Republic of Ireland bid jointly for Euro 2008 but were one of the first to be eliminated, and Scotland and Wales considered bidding jointly for Euro 2016 but decided against it.

Georgia and Azerbaijan were initially looking for a joint bid for Euro 2020 but Azerbaijan pulled out due to their commitment to Baku 2020 Olympic bid.

“Azerbaijan has made a bid to host the [2020] Olympics… So Georgia will continue bidding for Euro 2020 independently,” Lado Vardzelashvili, the Georgian minister of sports, said at a news conference on May 15.

Turkey’s bid is in some disarray already because their FA has been engulfed by allegations of corruption and match-fixing in Turkish football, and it also conflicts with Istanbul’s bid to land the Olympics in the same year.

UEFA president Michel Platini had signalled he would support Turkey’s bid, but only if Istanbul fails in its effort to host the Olympics.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said the idea of bidding for Euro 2020 had been discussed but would not confirm or deny whether an expression of interest had been made. “I’m not able to comment publicly at this stage because it has not gone to our board but there will be an exchange of correspondence before the deadline,” he told www.insidethegames.biz.

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English League Two club Exeter City have appointed Guy Wolfenden as the club’s new chief executive.

Wolfenden will replace vice chairman Julian Tagg, who held the acting CEO role from since 2011 and Tagg’s new role will see him return to focusing on the footballing aspects of the Grecians’ set-up.

40-year-old Wolfenden, who will start work at St James Park on October 1, joins from Warwickshire County Cricket Club having previously held a similar role with Somerset.

“I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to take up the role of Chief Executive at Exeter City,” he told the club’s official website.

“I’m genuinely excited to be able to work with the Supporters’ Trust, board and all the staff to continue to build on the fantastic supporter and commercial support the Grecians currently enjoy and to continue providing exciting football for all to watch.”

Tagg added: “Guy’s introduction will bring vast experience and drive which will allow him singular focus on commercial, sales, marketing, operations, and communications meaning I can return my focus to my first loves at Exeter City – the youth academy , football in the community and football, where there is much to be done.”

Australian motorsport administrator Kelvin O’Reilly has become the new Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Karting Association (AKA)

Australian Karting Association Ltd Chairman Mick Doohan has announced long-time  as the governing body’s new Chief Executive Officer today.

Karting will be the fourth motorsport category for Mr O’Reilly who has held numerous roles within the sporting and corporate arena. His experience covers sporting, administration, technical process and control, governance, marketing and commercial areas within organisations including the Touring Car Entrants Group (TEGA), TOCA Australia (FIA Super Touring), Gold Coast Motor Events and Rally Australia.

The strength and appeal of Karting in Australia was demonstrated by the overwhelming response to the role from local and international candidates.

“We had an incredible response for the new role of Chief Executive Officer with many high caliber applicants and we’re delighted to be able to have Kelvin join Karting as we enter the new era,” said AKA Chairman Mick Doohan.

Mr O’Reilly will officially begin his role as CEO of the Australian Karting Association on September 1.

“I’m looking forward to working with the Board and Karting Community to finalise the transition to the new corporate structure and long term direction of Australian Karting,” said O’Reilly.

“In conjunction with the Board of Australian Karting Association Ltd I look forward to being able to assist them and guide Karting as a sport in Australia as both a participation sport in its own right for all ages and as an enhanced ‘breeding ground’ for our future motorsport Champions.

“I look forward in the first few months to meeting with and working with the people that make Karting tick and to ensuring that the future of Karting in Australia realises the vision that the Board and all of our participants have for the sport.”

The AKA has in excess of 7,000 members with 92 Clubs across the country. The Association sanctions more than 700 race meetings and events annually across all States and Territories.

Mick Doohan, Chairman and Competition Director, is joined on the Australian Karting Association Ltd Board by Bradley Collins (Technical), Melissa Holzberger (Administration), Phill Smith (Finance) and Sam Moreton (Marketing).