Leeds United’s new owners, Dubai-based investment company GFH Capital, believe they can deliver a “fresh start” for the Championship club as they outlined their plans for the future.

GFH Capital’s reported £52 million takeover sees GFH deputy chairman David Haigh, who became a director last month, to be joined on the Leeds board by fellow executives Salem Patel and Hisham Alrayes.

A statement on Leeds’ website confirmed the company would take 100% charge, while they have been in protracted talks with Ken Bates, who is relinquishing ownership, over a deal that Patel believes can reinvigorate the club.

“We are delighted, but also honoured and proud to be the new owners of Leeds United football club,” Haigh said. “We have had over 4,000 e-mails of support from fans and we have been overwhelmed by the reaction. Everyone we have spoken to in the city has been fantastic.”

GFH has previously stated a desire to take the club back to the top-flight and Patel added: “We are looking forward to a bright future. This is a fresh start for the football club and we welcome fans both old and new to Elland Road.”

Leeds have been outside the top-flight since 2004 following financial turmoil that, at one point, instigated a fall into the third tier.

A new club chairman will be appointed by the new owners at the end of the season when Bates will become club president.

With five months still to go, sale Soccerex has confirmed that 80% of the exhibition space for the Global Convention in Rio de Janerio has already been sold. For the third year running the demand for spaces has exceeded expectation which confirms the Soccerex Global Convention’s reputation as the world’s leading event for the business of football.

With over 4, order 500 industry decision makers in attendance the exhibition provides a unique platform for businesses from around the world to share their latest industry products and services with the people who matter.

Exhibitors at this year’s event include leading brands such as Adidas, sale Honda, Errea, Nielsen and Unimed; rights holders Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Mamelodi Sundowns, Spanish FA and Lagos State FA; international agencies including XYZ Live, IMG, Sportfive, Alliance Sports and Works; stadium specialists Rapiscan, Smiths Detection, Terraplas, Mobiliario Seating, Soccer Grass and Forbex; hospitality specialists The Russell Partnership; plus host cities, regional governments and ministries, financial companies, charities and media to name just a few.

Exhibitors and delegates will also have the chance to listen and learn from some of the biggest names in football during specially tailored conferences. Previous speakers have included the governor of Rio de Janerio Sergio Cabral, Brazil’s Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo, Honorary Life President of FIFA João Havelange, FIFA Director of Marketing Thierry Weil and football legends such as Ossie Ardiles, Zico, Eusébio, Carlos Alberto Torres, Bryan Robson and already confirmed for this year is Sir Bobby Charlton. The conference programme will cover a range of footballing issues focusing on Goal Line technology, Major Event legacy, Player Development, Fan Engagement, The Future of Sports Rights, Media and the World Cup, Player Transfers & ownership, The Power of Image in Sport and Football Social Responsibility.

Another key attraction of the event is the Football Festival held on Copacabana beach, players already confirmed for this year’s legends match include Juliano Belletti, Marcel Deasilly, Gaizka Mendieta, Carlos Valderrama and Marcelo Salas.

The remaining exhibition space left at the convention is in high demand and will soon be fully sold out. If you are interested in exhibiting at the Soccerex Global Convention then please contact the Sales Team on +44 (0)208 987 5522.

An Irishman living in Australia has extended his mortgage to buy the Australian rights to Ireland’s upcoming World Cup qualifier, after being frustrated at missing out on watching his country play.

David Feeney, a Sydney-based IT director, contacted a friend in broadcasting from Ireland, who put him on to Kentaro, a German media company which owned the rights.

Feeney has bought the rights for “tens of thousands of dollars” to show Ireland v Sweden next Saturday and England v Ukraine four days later, airing the matches in sports bars and casinos up and down Australia’s east coast.

“They said my bid was too low, but that it was close. Then I raised the bid and they said OK,” Feeney said, who first had to run the idea by his wife.

“Both our names are on the mortgage, and when I told her about the idea, I don’t think she was too crazy about it. But if it works out, I’m hoping we can do more in the future.

“She was hardest to convince alright, but we have an agreement that if it makes any money, she gets to keep it.”

Feeney is also negotiating to televise both matches in New Zealand and some Pacific Islands.

Hearts have announced they will not accept’s Scottish Premier League decision to impose an indefinite transfer embargo on the club and will challenge the ruling.

The restraint was issued on Thursday after the Tynecastle club once again failed to make payments to players.

And the SPL read backed their stance by stating Hearts have “not paid a number of bonuses and appearance payments” and also face a disciplinary hearing, with a full range of sanctions at the league governing body’s disposal.

Hearts responded to the SPL statement by confirming they were taking legal advice and manager John McGlynn revealed the extended sanction will be fought.

“We’re going to challenge it,” McGlynn said. “It’s difficult to talk about it because we’re going through lawyers.

“There are other clubs who don’t pay their bonuses until the end of the season either. That’s why this can be challenged.

“The board of directors have looked at it and went to get legal advice. They want to take that a stage further.

“This has not come from the players. The players are not concerned by this at all.”

English fourth-tier side, Southend United have made the appointment of Steve Kavanagh as the club’s new chief executive following Gary Lockett’s departure.

Lockett last week stepped down from his post with immediate effect, citing his struggles to balance the demands of the job with his own business interests as the reason behind his resignation.

Lockett has remained as a non-executive director at Roots Hall but Kavanagh, former chief exec of Charlton who has worked in the game for over 10 years, has now taken the role of CEO.

Kavanagh told the club’s official website: “I have known Ron Martin (chairman) for a number of years and I have seen first hand his passion and desire to deliver success for the club and I am looking forward to working along side Ron, and the rest of the board, to deliver what is a really exciting future.

“Part of this vision has to deliver success on the pitch and I will be working with Paul Sturrock to build on the feel-good factor that exists in the squad. I was at the match last night (Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat to Burton) and it ended disappointingly, but the spirit in the team having gone down to 10 men so early on, and the desire to go and win the game, was evident.”

Kavanagh becomes Southend’s third chief executive in the space of eight months following Lockett and Tara Brady, who also resigned from his post.

Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club – Phuket, Thailand is home to the best facilities throughout south-east Asia, housing an Olympic competitionstandard pool, tness centre, athletics track, tennis courts and rugby pitch. The club is proud to announce another rst class edition to their offering, The Sponsorship Experts. Leading independent marketing  consultancy Paul Poole(South East Asia) Co., Ltd. will be managing all sponsorship and marketing opportunities for Thanyapura Sports & Lei sure Club – Phuket, Thailand in 2012 and 2013.

Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd. Managing Director, Paul Poole spoke of his excitement of the deal:

“I am delighted to be part of the team helping to develop such a fantastic centre and club as well as support the development of children through sports and creative activities. We have no doubt that with our support Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club – Phuket, Thailand will thrive even further through carefully managed partnerships & sponsorships with sort after brands and businesses.”

Robert Hauck, President of Thanyapura spoke of the partnership:

“We are all very pleased that Paul Poole and his team will be using their expertise to open sponsorship and marketing opportunities for Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club – Phuket, Thailand throughout 2012 and 2013. We are all hugely excited to be able to work with such a knowledgeable and innovative team.”

Commercial Sponsorship & Partnership Opportunities are available. For more information please visit the iSportconnect Market Place or click here

U.S. Soccer announced that “National Women’s Soccer League” (NWSL) will be the name of the new eight-team women’s soccer league, which has replaced WPSL-Elite, which replaced WPS, which replaced WUSA.

NWSL will begin in the spring 2013 and be administered by U.S. Soccer.

U.S. Soccer will subsidize the salaries of up to 24 U.S. Women’s National Team players while the Canadian Soccer Association and Federation of Mexican Football will each do the same for up to 16 players.

The eight teams in the league are: Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Sky Blue FC, Washington Spirit, Western New York Flash and Seattle, which has yet to announce its team name.

Former U.S. Women’s National Team General Manager Cheryl Bailey was named Executive Director for the new league.

Following the recent announcement that Troon has been selected as the management team at the Royal Golf Club, medicine Bahrain, story David J Flanders has been appointed to the position of General Manager of the Club.

Flanders will replace outgoing General Manager, generic Susan Stevenson.

“The Royal Golf Club team is delighted to welcome DJ on board,” commented Stevenson. “He has worked for Troon for the past 13 years and is acclaimed as one of their top five performers worldwide. Together with Troon, DJ is tasked with taking the Club to the next level in terms of furthering its reputation and elevating the club experience for both Members and guests. His previous experience, especially at other Clubs in the region, makes him a great fit for the job.”

“I could not be more excited to be joining the Royal Golf Club,” stated Flanders. “The facility and staff are spectacular and I’m looking forward to meeting all the Members and guests as they experience the Club.”

American Flanders, a PGA member, is currently employed as General Manager of the upscale Muttontown Club in New York. He is expected to move to Bahrain with his family towards the end of October and will take up his new position at the Royal Golf Club on 1st November.

His previous experience includes managing the prestigious Saadiyat Beach and Abu Dhabi Golf Clubs in the UAE as well as the Phoenix Country Club in Japan and the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Arizona, US.