English Championship team, Nottingham Forest have announced chairman Omar Al Hasawi has stepped down from his role for personal reasons.

Majority shareholder Fawaz Al Hasawi will replace him in the key position at the City Ground.

Fawaz told the club’s official website: “I would like to thank my cousin Omar for all the hard work he has put in since I took over the club in the summer.

“I’m looking forward to taking over as chairman and intend to spend even more time at the club. I’m sure we will continue to go from strength to strength.”

The finest names in the business of football are gathering at Stamford Bridge on Thursday 8^th November for the first ever Football Business Awards. Over 350 places have already been sold and the shortlist of candidates includes some of the biggest and most innovative names in the game. Clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion will join businesses like ESPN, Barclays, Standard & Chartered, Kitbag and StreamUK in an evening of networking, business and glamour.

There are a limited number of tables and individual places still available. Go to www.footballbusinessawards.com for more details and to book your place.

The Football Business Awards have been designed to celebrate excellence and acknowledge success in the business of football. The Awards will recognise the essential role that business plays in football, the positive impact of football on the community and vital role played by the businesses which serve the game.

The awards ceremony will be a glittering gala dinner hosted by Chelsea FC, one of SW London’s most prestigious venues. We anticipate that an audience of over 400 will attend what promises to be a thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable occasion for all who attend.

Durham chief executive David Harker has confirmed he will be stepping down next year, health ending a two-decade association with the county.

Harker has held his current position for the past 13 years, impotent but will vacate the role in May, with no decision yet made regarding his successor.

The North-East born businessman leaves the club on a high, with a first-ever Ashes Test secured in 2013, and Harker is confident he has made the right decision.

“Whatever you achieve, there is always the temptation to stay on and reach the next goal but it does feel like now is the time to step aside and pass on the reins to someone else,” he said.

“With the Ashes secured in 2013 – something we could once have scarcely imagined happening in Durham – I had been thinking that the coming year may be the one in which I looked for a new challenge.”

Durham have twice won the LV= County Championship, in 2008 and 2009, during Harker’s tenure.

“I have enjoyed a fantastic 20 years with DCCC. The club has changed beyond recognition since I joined the team, and it’s a real honour to have played a part in the fantastic achievements made here.”

Soccerex is honoured to announce that South African Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula will be speaking at the opening ceremony at the Soccerex African Forum, find 23-24 October.

As a key member of the cabinet, thumb Mr. Mbalula is well-versed in South African politics. His ministerial role means he oversees the development of sport across the country, cialis including its most popular sport, football.

Commenting on his involvement at the Forum, Fikile Mbalula said:

“I am very excited to be attending the Forum, it will provide us with an opportunity to build on the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and with the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching it is a very exciting time for South African football. As the draw is taking place on the last day of the Forum, it is a great place to meet everyone involved in the beautiful game.”

Speaking on Mr. Mbalula’s involvement, Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said:

“It is fantastic that Mr. Mbalula will be participating in the opening ceremony at the Soccerex African Forum. As the South African Minister of Sport he will play a fundamental role when South Africa hosts the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as in the continued development of football across both South Africa and Africa as a whole.”

The first Soccerex African Forum will feature a detailed conference featuring some of the biggest names in football, with a packed exhibition and a programme of networking events which will build on the business legacy of Soccerex’s three-year stay in South Africa (2007-2009) for the Global Convention and help develop the legacy of 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM across Africa.

For further information about this event please call +44 (0)20 8987 5522 or visit http://www.soccerex.com/events/africa/

The company will continue to produce programming for the ITF’s two prestigious team competitions, sale the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup. This includes a highlights show after every competition weekend, plus daily shows from the Davis Cup Final.

This year’s Davis Cup Final takes place this weekend between Serbia and Czech Republic in Belgrade.

The new agreement runs until 2018 and will extend Input Media’s partnership with the ITF to nearly 15 years.

Input’s tennis experience includes producing the world feed and daily highlights programming from Roland Garros on behalf of the French Tennis Federation, and co-producing ITV’s Roland Garros coverage.

Input Media is also host broadcaster of the year-end WTA Championships in Istanbul.

Alexander Baron von Spoercken, erectile long standing EGCOA Vice President & co-founder and chairman of the German Golf Course Owners Association (BVGA) has been elected as the European Golf Course Owners Association (EGCOA) President at the annual general meeting held in Cannes.

Alexander is also Chairman of Clubhouse AG, viagra pharmacy one of the most successful golf course chain operations in Germany and is currently ranked in Golf Magazine at number No. 5 of the 100 most important people in German golf market. Alexander has taken over the reins from Marcel Welling owner of The Netherlands largest golf course owning operation BurgGolf.

Marcel held the presidential role since the start of the EGCOA in 2007 and over the years has provided outstanding support to the EGCOA and insightful view of the European Golf Business.

EGCOA Director Lodewijk Klootwijk said: “We are delighted to welcome Alexander as the new EGCOA President. His wealth of experience, and industry knowledge and professionalism will aid the EGCOA in further development in the coming years.”

He added “We would like to thank Marcel Welling for his support & guidance of the EGCOA since our inauguration in 2007, his vision was a leading force in helping the EGCOA develop to over 900 members with 15 National Owners Associations throughout Europe.

The EGCOA provides services to support golf course owners in their aims, represents their interests on a European level and improves golf business on a European level. The EGCOA represents more than 900 members in 24 European countries. In 15 countries the National Golf Course Owners Associations are member of the EGCOA.