Soccerex is proud to announce that the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has confirmed he will be attending the Soccerex Seminar Lagos, 27 – 28, September. He will be delivering a keynote speech as part of the opening session entitled Football in West Africa. The session already includes the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Seyi Akinwunmi and President of the Ghana Football Association Kwesi Nyantakyi.

The Nigerian Football Federation was formed in 1945 and became affiliated with CAF in 1959 and FIFA in 1960. As of 2008 it organises three leagues and five cup competitions. Alhaji Aminu Maigari stated: “This is a landmark achievement that should be celebrated considering what Soccerex has been doing in the area of business for the past one and a half decades. The NFF is encouraging all efforts and endeavours geared towards promoting the game and making Nigerian football a bigger brand than it ever was.”

The Soccerex Seminar Lagos will deliver a conference agenda exploring current football business topics in West Africa and will gather speakers from regional rights holders, governing bodies and agencies along with internationally-renowned personalities to debate key issues such as youth development, doing business in West Africa, lifecycle of an African player and football’s social responsibility.

Following this recent addition to the growing line-up of senior speakers Duncan Revie, CEO of Soccerex added “We’re delighted to have the support of the Nigerian Football Federation and view this is a seamless continuation of our fruitful relationship with the Lagos State Football Association. The aim of the Soccerex Seminar Lagos is to develop football in West Africa. Having the Nigerian Football Federation and the Lagos State Football Association on board is crucial and will only contribute towards that development. Lagos and Nigeria will be welcoming the world of football with open arms this September.”

For more information on the Soccerex Seminar Lagos please go to www.soccerex.com/lagos

For the first time in six years, Premier League outfit, Wigan Athletic have announced a net profit of £4.3m.

This is compared to a £7.2m net loss in 2011.

The figures cover the season 2011-12 when Latics achieved 15th position in the Premier League. 

EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of players) was £8.9m compared with £4.9m in the previous year. 

Turnover increased to £52.6m compared to £50.5m in 2011. 

Salary costs were the most significant expenditure but these reduced to £37.7m compared to the previous year cost of £39.9. Total administrative expenses including amortisation of player contracts reduced to £55.0m from £58.4m in the previous year. 

During the year the Club invested £10.4m on new players whilst profit from the sale of players increased to £7.9m from £2.3m in the previous year primarily due to the sale of Charles N’Zogbia to Aston Villa. 

Net debt at the year-end including bank borrowings and loans from Chairman David Whelan and his family reduced significantly to £20.5m compared with £72.2m in the previous year. During the year £48m of debt was converted to equity which significantly reduced the Club’s long term liabilities. At the same time the ordinary and preferred ordinary shares of the Club were transferred to a new parent company, Wigan Athletic Holdings Limited which also holds a controlling interest in the company operating the DW Stadium. 

Chief Executive Jonathan Jackson commented, “The results are once again encouraging and we are very pleased to report a net profit position in a very competitive environment. By increasing turnover and controlling costs the Club is continuing to progress to a break even operating position which all football clubs are aspiring to but many are finding it difficult to achieve. 

“We continue to maintain our position in the Barclays Premier League by significant investment in the playing squad to strengthen our position on the field in our eighth year in the top division. In addition, major improvement of our academy and training facilities will commence this year to expand our strategic aim of consolidating and enhancing our infrastructure with increased focus on youth development. This would not be possible without the continued financial support of Chairman, David Whelan who remains an enthusiastic and committed owner who has taken his home-town club from the lower reaches of the Football League to being an established Premier League club. The conversion of £48m of debt to equity has significantly strengthened the Club’s financial position and has, to a very significant extent, written off the debt owed to Mr Whelan.” 

“With significant increases in revenues forecasted for Premier League clubs from broadcasting agreements next year, the Club is ideally placed to continue its organic growth and continue to compete in the highest profile and most competitive league in the world from a sound and sustainable financial position.”

English Championship’s Leeds United have announced reduced turnover and gate receipts.

The sale of Max Gradel and former club captain Jonathan Howson helped the club post an overall profit of £317,000, although that was well down on the £3.5m recorded during the previous 12 months.

“Leeds United have underlined the importance of GFH Capital’s recent takeover by publishing new figures which reveal a major financial downturn at Elland Road,” read a statement on United’s official website.

“The club’s results for the 12 months leading up to June 30, 2012 show marked decreases in turnover and gate receipts and an operating loss of more than £3.3million.

“United posted an overall profit of £317,000, helped by the sale of ex-player of the year Max Gradel and former club captain Jonathan Howson, but the figure decreased dramatically from £3.5million during the previous 12 months.

“Gate receipts were down 10 per cent and turnover fell by almost five per cent to just over £31million.

“United’s parent company Leeds City Holdings Limited, saw more severe decreases with its operating loss standing at £4.193m and its overall loss recorded as £536,000.

“Along with the club, Leeds City Holdings Limited owns Yorkshire Radio – United’s official radio station – Leeds United Media Limited and the Centenary Pavilion.

“The results have emerged a week after GFH Capital, the Dubai-based private equity firm, secured a 100 per cent buy-out of Leeds City Holdings Limited and acquired the majority shareholding of Leeds chairman Ken Bates.

“The 12 months covered by United’s latest accounts span a period in which Bates faced long-running protests against his running of the club and average league attendances fell by almost 4,000.”

According to reports, Sir Clive Woodward is set to announce he has stepped down as director of sport at the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Woodward has spent six years at the organisation and was a key player in the recent London 2012 Games. The BOA is currently undergoing restructuring in the aftermath of the hugely successful Olympics and insidethegames.biz reports that the decision was “entirely amicable”.

It is also understood that Woodward will “maintain ties to the BOA in an ambassadorial role” and that he is “expected to retain his seat on the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Entourage Commission”.

But the news of Woodward’s decision will spark rumours of a return to rugby – the sport where he made his name. The World Cup-winning coach was previously linked with performance director role at the Rugby Football Union and with the country hosting a home World Cup in 2015, there is a chance that the organisers of the tournament – England Rugby 2015 – could look to bring him onboard to aid preparations for rugby’s global gathering.

ER2015 has already recruited one of the architects of the London 2012 Games in Debbie Jevans who is set to start work as the organisation’s new chief executive this month.

cialis sans-serif;”>SPORTEL is proud to announce its return to Rio de Janeiro for our 2013 spring market, erectile which will be held from the 11th to the 13th of March, at the Sofitel Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The inaugural SPORTELRio, held earlier this year, was deemed a success as it played host to nearly 600 registered attendees from the international sports content and new media industries. “With the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, we had high hopes for SPORTELRio 2012, but this market exceeded our expectations by far” stated Ms. Amparo Di Fede, General Manager of SPORTEL.

SPORTEL intends to build on the success of SPORTELRio 2012, and has answered to the demands of its participants who chose Rio as the destination of choice for the 2013 spring market.

SPORTEL Markets (SPORTELMonaco, SPORTELAmerica, SPORTELRio, SPORTELAsia) are recognized globally as the largest, most influential business venue for high-level sports and media executives for the past 23 years. SPORTEL is globally respected as the one “must-attend” business market for sports media professionals involved in sports programming across all media platforms.

The Football League has signed a new partnership with YouTube giving supporters access to a whole new world of free online video content.

The new agreement will see the Football League’s online arm FL Interactive – which includes clubs from across the Football League, Premier League and non-league game – launch official YouTube Channels for more than 85 clubs, as well as the Football League itself. From launch, they will become football’s largest network of Official Club Channels across the YouTube platform.

Each season more than 20,000 videos will be launched across these channels, including match highlights and clips from Football League competitions – including the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League 1, Sky Bet League 2, the Capital One Cup and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. It will also give supporters behind the scenes access at their club, live programming, match preview and review shows, as well as footage and compilations from the Football League archive.

The new channels, which will be available globally, will also feature co-productions with established YouTube partners in the sport, music, entertainment and gaming spheres that will enable clubs to interact with an ever wider audience.

The Football League’s Chief Commercial Officer, Richard Heaselgrave said: “This is completely new territory for The Football League and fits with our vision of entertaining fans seven days a week, 365 days a year rather than for just 90 minutes every Saturday.

“To do this we are investing in new resources and platforms to deliver better, more diverse content to fans when and how they want it.

“This new agreement is a crucial element of that strategy as it gives clubs a truly global platform from which to engage with both new and existing fans through regular, creative and original programming.”

Stephen Nuttall, Senior Director, YouTube Sports EMEA: “A partnership with The Football League, notably during its 125th Anniversary season, will expand the fast growing range of football content that YouTube’s viewers the world over can enjoy. The Football League and clubs in its FLi network will provide entertaining, fresh and fun content, including match highlights and news, throughout the week.”