Friends Life today announces a new partnership with leading sponsorship agency Generate Sponsorship ahead of this year’s Friends Life t20 competition.

With the domestic Twenty20 cricket competition, dosage sale set to begin on 1 June, Friends Life has enlisted the services of Generate to help raise its profile as the leading sponsor of the tournament.

The competition will run throughout June and July with a total of 97 matches being played including the season highlights of the quarter, semi-final and final fixtures set for 25 August in Cardiff.

Peter Foster, Director Corporate Affairs and Brand, Friends Life said:

“I am delighted to have the team at Generate working with us.  I have long admired their work and their reputation within the field of sports sponsorship speaks for itself. I am confident they will do a terrific job in helping promote Friends Life’s association with cricket.”

Andy Muggleton, Managing Partner, Generate Sponsorship added:

“We are very pleased to be working with Friends Life to activate its sponsorship of Twenty20 cricket.  It’s a very exciting time for the brand and there is a great team in place committed to delivering business benefits through sponsorship.  We have a real passion for the sport and look forward to developing a long-term partnership with Friends Life.”

English Championship club, Bolton Wanderers have announced that their debt has substantially increased to £22.1 million in the year ending June 2012, meaning they now owe £136.5 million.

Although the financial results are an improvement on the previous year – when Burnden Leisure, the club’s parent company, lost £26.1 million – they do not take into account any loss in revenue from Bolton’s relegation to the Championship.

In addition to that, the figure includes the sale of Gary Cahill to Chelsea for £10 million in January.

Bolton’s debt in 2006 stood at around £29 million, when they just about broke even, but since then they have haemorrhaged money at an alarming rate. The latest figures show the debt has risen by 368.97% in the space of six years.

However, the club remains in a stable position despite the level of the losses because £125 million is owed to Moonshift Investments Ltd (MIL), which belongs to the club’s owner, Edwin Davies. Bolton and MIL have agreed to refinance the debt into a long-term loan.

MIL recieves interest payments on the debt, which in 2012 stood at £5.517 million. The company is also owed £2.83 million in an unspecified player success fee carried over from 2011.

Chairman Phil Gartside told the club’s official website: “We continue to face a tough economic climate, but we have continued to invest across the business, and for the second year we have reduced our losses.

“Key to this set of figures is the fact Eddie Davies has converted his investment in our club from short-term to long-term debt. It is a huge vote of confidence and underlines the ongoing support and commitment he has for our club.

“To lose our place in the Barclays Premier League was hugely disappointing for all of us – fans, staff and players – and our aim is to return at the first opportunity.”

Bolton did see a rise in revenue from sponsorship, advertising, merchandise and licensing, but there was a drop in gate receipts and turnover fell from £67.7 million to £64.9 million.

Jim Doyle, CEO of the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL), is to step down from his position at the end of the year, after a successful three years.

Doyle was appointed in August 2009 and used his ‘game plan’ to restructure the league, build long term relationships with partners and ensure year-on-year profits were achieved.

In his time as CEO, Doyle has managed to make the NZRL one of the most pro-active national sporting bodies in the country.

Of his departure, Doyle said: “’I really wanted to make a difference and do all I could to help rugby league become a much stronger sport on all fronts and at all levels.

”It has certainly been a very challenging three years and I feel I have done all I can personally to achieve that.”

Scott Carter, NZRL Chairman added his gratitude: “Jim has an exceptional talent for communicating, an outstanding work ethic and a commercial aptitude that is simply first-class.

”We have been extremely privileged to have Jim lead the organisation through a very critical period and he will undoubtedly be missed by everyone.”

Since news of Doyle’s resignation was announced, link suggesting he could become the Chief Executive of the Australian Rugby League Commission have surfaced.

Doyle was quick to reject these rumours and said: “I’ve seen that I have been linked a few times over the previous few months, but definitely not.

“I don’t intend to be moving permanently to Australia.”

Manchester United and England International Rio Ferdinand has confirmed his attendance at the Soccerex European Forum, viagra 28-29 March 2012, therapy Manchester.

Hugely successful on the pitch, generic Rio has also proved himself an accomplished businessman, with eye catching ventures such as #5, the world’s first digital lifestyle magazine, Rosso, his Manchester Restaurant and his hugely successful clothing line.

Attending alongside New Era Sports Management, a UK based football agency he will undoubtedly be taking advantage of the extensive business networking opportunities available.

Over 1,600 delegates are expected to attend this year’s Soccerex European Forum, Europe’s premier football business event, where they will benefit from exclusive business opportunities via an extensive conference programme, packed exhibition and a number of formal and informal networking events. 

Now in its third year in Manchester the event the European Forum conference agenda will feature sessions on UEFA’s move to centralise media rights, player and coach development, the art of management – a master-class with Rafael Benitez, betting, the tricky business of managing England with Terry Venables, financial management of clubs, the relationship between football and the media, and will finish with the Soccerex Supplement, a session with some of football’s biggest names.

Duncan Revie, Soccerex CEO and son of the late great England and Leeds United Manager Don Revie, commented that “We are absolutely delighted to have such an accomplished champion as Rio Ferdinand attending the Soccerex European Forum. It shows his commitment to business life after football, and highlights our ability to provide the perfect environment for business to be done.”

Former National Rugby League (NRL) CEO, medstore David Gallop, ed has been appointed as the new CEO of Football Federation Australia (FFA).

Gallop replaces Ben Buckley who will step down at the end of broadcasting negotiations that are likely to take two months.

The capture of Gallop comes six years after he was first approached to become the FFA’s CEO and three months after he left his position at the NRL.

Frank Lowy, ambulance Chairman of the FFA paid tribute to the outgoing Buckley: “Ben has worked tirelessly for football both at home and abroad and has steered the game through a difficult period of consolidation.

“He has the respect and thanks of the board for his contribution and he will remain a valued friend of the game.

“I wish him well for the future.”

An official presentation from the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the FIFA U-17 Women`s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012, cialis will complete the line up for the Emerging Markets Workshop, part of the Conference schedule for this year’s exciting Soccerex European Forum (28-29 March 2012).

The presentation, entitled “Vision Azerbaijan” will look at the nation’s plan for hosting the FIFA U-17 Women`s World Cup and the related business opportunities in the region. The core of the presentation will be delivering broad information about the FIFA U-17 Women`s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012, inform presentation attendees about the preparation phase (opportunities of hosting the world cup, challenges), cooperation opportunities with international media, sport institutions and other related companies, volunteering opportunities and etc. The presentation will be delivered by Nargiz Mammadova, LOC Coordinator and Vugar Rustamli Volunteering Director.

Situated in the Caucasus region of Eastern Europe with a population of nine million people, Azerbaijan is an young, motivated, independent country with a passion for sport and in particular football. The hosting of the FIFA U-17 Women`s World Cup is the first step in their bid to establish themselves as a major sporting event host and Baku are also bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Commenting on their involvement in this year’s Soccerex European Forum Elkhan Mammadov, General Secretary of Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan and LOC Chairman said: “We are very much looking forward to sharing the activity that is happening in Azerbaijan this year with regards to the Women`s U-17 FIFA World Cup and the business opportunities that Azerbaijan offers to the global football community. Having the Soccerex European Forum as a platform for us to engage with the media and the football business community is a wonderful opportunity and we look forward to collaborating with Soccerex in more occasions in the future.”

The Azerbaijan session is part of a series of presentations that make up the Emerging Markets Workshop taking place in the morning of Thursday 29^th March at the Soccerex European Forum. The other markets being explored are Lagos, home of the recently confirmed Soccerex Seminar Lagos and India.

In addition to emerging markets the conference agenda will be addressing some the key issues affecting the industry including sessions on UEFA’s move to centralise media rights, player and coach development, the art of management – a master-class with Rafael Benitez, betting, the tricky business of managing England with Terry Venables, financial management of clubs in the wake of financial fair play, the relationship between football and the media, and the Soccerex Supplement, a session with some of football’s biggest names.

Over 1500 delegates are expected to attend this year’s Soccerex European Forum where they will benefit from exclusive business opportunities via a packed exhibition and a number of formal and informal networking events

English League One, Carlisle United have revealed operating losses of £124,329 for last season after failing to reach the play-offs.

The Cumbrians, who released their statement ahead of the club’s annual general meeting, also confirmed turnover was down £652,141.

A club statement read: “Excluding depreciation and amortisation, the company had an operating loss of £124,329 with some key areas of movement.

“The turnover was down £652,141 – all of which was attributable to less football income (Johnstone’s Paint Trophy/Football League Trophy income was reduced by £420k, player sales reduced by £105k and FA Cup income reduced by £41k).

“In terms of expenses, player basic wages were reduced compared to 2011, although bonus payments for league position were higher, and in return we did not achieve a play-off position or increased crowds.”

The club is hoping to realise savings of £230,000 in running costs by the end of the 2012/13 financial year.

National Basketball Association (NBA) side the Cleveland Cavaliers have promoted Mike Gansey to Director of Development League Operations and Cavaliers Basketball Operations Assistant.

Gansey, ambulance 29, spent the 2011/12 season as the Cavaliers Basketball Operations Assistant and in his new position as the Cavaliers’ Director of Development League Operations/Cavaliers Basketball Operations Assistant, he will work closely with Cavaliers Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin and Canton Charge Head Coach Alex Jensen in the basketball operations and personnel matters of the Cavaliers’ exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League affiliate.

The Charge’s basketball operations areas will continue to be overseen by Griffin and Coach Jensen will now expand his leadership role to be more involved with player personnel matters, in addition to his head coaching duties.

A native of Olmsted Falls, Gansey played collegiately at West Virginia, where, as a senior, he led the Mountaineers to the Sweet 16 and was named a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Award, the Wooden Award as well as the Naismith Trophy.

Following his college career, he played professionally overseas in Italy (2007-08), Germany (2008-09) and Spain (2010-11) and also played 57 games (27 starts) in the NBA Development League over two seasons (2007-08, 2009-10) with Anaheim, Idaho and Erie, averaging  11.5 points on .452 shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.9 minutes per game.

London, capsule 13 March, medical 2012: Bringing together its renowned journalists and leading industry figures, physician the International Herald Tribune Sports Business Summit is an exclusive forum for sports leaders and investors to discuss critical developments in the global sports industry.  The conference, which takes place in Istanbul on 25 and 26 April 2012, has just added two high profile members of the Turkish Government to the speaker line-up. 

Mr. Egemen Ba?is, Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs, and Mr Suat Kiliç, Turkey’s Minister for Youth & Sports, will both be providing opening keynote welcomes to the conference.  Mr Ba?is will be discussing the role of sports in international relations and Mr. Kiliç will be discussing Turkey’s current investment in sports, as well as explaining Turkey’s objectives in bringing more international sporting events to the country.

The impressive speaker lineup at the IHT Sports Business Summit will provide important analysis on commercial opportunities in sport, and look at vital topics from the impact of new media technologies to how globalization and the rise of the BRIC nations is reshaping the sports business landscape.

Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, publisher of the IHT, said: “We are excited to be holding this conference in the European Capital of Sport 2012. Istanbul is a dynamic, fascinating city and the ideal setting for our international event, particularly accessible to our loyal audience in Europe and Asia.”

The IHT Sports Business Summit is unique in that, as well as traditional conferences sessions, IHT sports journalists will host conversations with formidable sports leaders such as the Chairman of Chelsea FC, Bruce Buck and Jin-Sun Kim who is heading up the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

The speaker lineup includes:

Anders-Sundt Jensen, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Cars

Bruce Buck, Chairman, Chelsea F.C.

Christopher Clarey, Chief Sports Correspondent, International Herald Tribune

Jin-Sun Kim, President and CEO, The Pyeong Chang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President, Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee

Ronald Noble, Secretary General, INTERPOL

Richard Worth, Chairman and CEO, America’s Cup Event Authority

Ser Miang Ng, Vice President, International Olympic Committee

Richard Ayers, Digital Playmaker, Manchester City F.C.

Edwin Moses, Chairman, Laureus World Sports Academy

Rob Hughes, Sports Writer, International Herald Tribune

Haroon Lorgat, Chief Executive, International Cricket Council

Jim Small, Vice President Asia, Major League Baseball  

Joel F. Finlay, Global Lead – Major Sport Events; Global Infrastructure Projects Group, KPMG

Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour
Brad Spurgeon, Sports Writer, International Herald Tribune

Marcus John, Global Head of Sports, MediaCom

Poul Hansen, Head, United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace
Killick Datta, Chief Executive Officer and President, International Brand Partners

Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship, HSBC

Victor Cui, CEO and Owner, ONE Fighting Championship

Ram Reddy, Owner, Deccan Chargers

The summit is in collaboration with Sport Business and in association with Sport 360.