Port Vale administrators Begbies-Traynor has announced that Alchemy Investment Group is the English League Two club’s preferred bidder.

The Group is fronted by businessman Paul Wildes, try along with his business partner Norman Smurthwaite.

Heads of Terms were signed on Friday between Alchemy Investment Group and Begbies-Traynor, allergy with the deal now awaiting approval from the Football League. The deal is worth £1.25-million, which is payable upon completion and has no deferred element.

Bob Young, Partner at administrators Begbies-Traynor, said: “This has been a long process and a difficult time for everyone connected with Port Vale Football Club. Alchemy Investment Group has completed extensive due diligence on the club and have also been approved by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

“We are confident that the business has all of the financial requirements in place and are looking forward to receiving approval from the Football League so we can complete at the earliest opportunity.”

Paul Wildes, of Alchemy Investment Group, added: “We are aware that there is still a process to be completed in terms of Football League approval, which all parties are working towards.

“I have watched Port Vale on a number of occasions in recent months and although I am cautious because the deal is yet to be completed, I am also excited at the thought of being involved in a club with so much potential.

“Port Vale has a rich history and I am certain that we can play our part in ensuring it also has a successful future.”

Following his resignation as Portland Trail Blazers president on Saturday, Larry Miller has re-joined Nike as President of the Jordan Brand.

Miller will be responsible for driving the global growth strategy for all aspects of the Jordan Brand and will report directly to Trevor Edwards, Vice President Global Brand and Category Management for Nike. Miller replaces Keith Houlemard, who will now lead the company’s future worldwide Olympic efforts as General Manager where he will be responsible for driving category and brand management strategies supporting key sports marketing partnerships and business across the globe.

“The Jordan Brand inspires consumers around the world with exceptional products and premium experiences while celebrating the culture of sport”

Miller, 61, most recently served as President of the Portland Trail Blazers. From 1999 to 2006, Miller served as President of the Jordan Brand and prior to that position, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Nike Basketball, where he managed operations for Jordan, Nike Basketball and Converse.

Miller currently serves on the board of directors for Self Enhancement Inc. (“SEI”), the Oregon Business Council, Oregon Sports Authority, and is a member of the Portland Mayor’s Economic Development Cabinet.

“The Jordan Brand inspires consumers around the world with exceptional products and premium experiences while celebrating the culture of sport,” said Trevor Edwards. “The Jordan Brand continues to drive strong momentum in the marketplace and we look forward to Larry expanding our market leadership while delivering Jordan Brand experiences that connect deeply with future generations.”

Michael Jordan said: “It’s great to have Larry return to the Jordan Brand at such an exciting time. He is a strong leader, knows our brand and understands how to accelerate the growth of a premium business. Keith Houlemard has been an exceptional leader for our brand. His leadership, hard work and vision had much to do with the Jordan Brand’s unparalleled success in recent years. I know he will excel in his new role and I wish him all the best.”

Der Fluch geht weiter: Deutschland kann Italien nicht besiegen. Beim “ran Jahrhundertspiel” zogen die deutschen Alt-Stars gestern Abend den Kürzeren – und bescherten kabel eins sehr gute Quoten: 8, denture 8 Prozent der 14- bis 49-Jährigen verfolgten die mit Ballack, pills Matthäus, Lehmann, Littbarski und vielen anderen ehemaligen DFB-Nationalspielern hochkarätig besetzte Partie gegen die Azzurri. Nach dem 1:1 (Vieri, Eigentor Mussi) folgte das Elfmeterschießen: Reck, Lehmann, Ballack und Basler nutzen ihre Chance, doch Fredi Bobic scheiterte am italienischen Torwart Marco Ballotta. Am Ende ging das “ran Jahrhundertspiel” mit 5:6 an Italien. Insgesamt verfolgten im Schnitt 2,21 Millionen Zuschauer das Fußball-Highlight bei kabel eins. Der Spitzenwert lag bei 2,65 Millionen Zuschauern. Ein Teil der Erlöse des Spieles gehen an die “Laureus Sports for Good”- Stiftung und “Ein Herz für Kinder”.

Basis: alle Fernsehhaushalte Deutschlands (integriertes Fernsehpanel D + EU) Quelle: AGF/GfK-Fernsehforschung / TV Scope / ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland Audience Research Erstellt: 15.10.2012 (vorläufig gewichtet: 14.10.2012)

Following the resignation of Richard Wright, adiposity Castleford Tigers have appointed Steve Ferres as their new chief executive with immediate effect.

An avid supporter of the club throughout childhood having grown up in the town, Ferres has a considerable CV including more than 41 years in the professional game as a player, coach and administrator. He has notable experience in the chief executive role having held the post at York City Knights and Wakefield Wildcats.

On the appointment, Jack Fulton, Tigers chairman said: “I am delighted to appoint Steve as our new chief executive. He is extremely passionate about the club and that is a definite positive, however his contacts and vast experience in the game enable me with confidence to say that he is the right man to lead us forward.

“As a club we are currently experiencing an extremely tough time on the pitch and I can assure everyone that the entire club are doing everything we can to address this. It is vital supporters, players, staff and directors now unite and get behind Steve – and Ian (Millward) – in order for the club to push on and reach its potential.”

Ferres said: “I am delighted to take on this role and thank Jack and the rest of the Board of Directors for the opportunity.

“I have had a number of different roles within the game over many years, though my affinity and passion for Cas has never waned. It has always been a dream of mine to play for Castleford, and that opportunity having passed me by, my professional aspiration has been to lead the club and to drive it forward and I will do my utmost to deliver good times at this club.

“Like Jack, I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of Richard Wright. It is a very difficult, often-thankless role; I have no doubts about that. To have stayed in the role for 15 years is a real credit to him and his family.

“The club faces many challenges; that is the way it always has been for Castleford as a club and the people of the town. Whilst Castleford have rarely had the luxuries that other clubs and areas have had at their disposal, this hasn’t prevented it from continually punching above its weight. Castleford is unique in that it has the largest support per population within Rugby League and I want to harness that.

“The solutions to the club’s problems are in the hands of the people within Castleford. When my time in this role comes to an end I’d like Castleford to be unrivalled as the best Community club in the game.

“Changes won’t happen over night, I have to gain a thorough understanding of what structures are already in place at the club before generating a plan to move forward.

“Castleford has always been a club that is centered around its supporters and fans will be heavily involved throughout the process.

“I will be attending the game today though I won’t be addressing the crowd. I see that as an in-personal way of meeting you all. Instead the club will stage a barbeque at the ground in the very near future where I can spend more time meeting you all face-to-face.”

Sports Merchandise and Marketing Exhibition (SMMEX) at Wembley Stadium on Monday 5^th March is set to be the biggest event ever with more foreign support through exhibitors and visitors. 

Over 25% of exhibitors this year are crossing the water to display their products and services to the ever growing sports industry.

From USA to Taiwan, abortion from Portugal to Germany, over 17 different countries will come together on Monday 5^th March to exhibit their products and services including specialist in creating flags & signage to logistics, from watches to drinks bottles, from Christmas decorations to babies toys, from action figurines to shirt printing there is something for everyone. 

This success in attracting more foreign exhibitors has also lead to strong increase in foreign interest visiting the show, with major associations like NBA and MLS travelling across the Atlantic to find new licensed merchandise and sports clubs like FC Bayern Munich, Shakhtar Donetsk and Vfb Stuttgart visiting for new ideas to help increase revenue. There is also a demand from retailers looking to promote the English clubs abroad with visitors as far as Bermuda and Australia. 

There is still time to request your ticket and be part of the biggest multi-sport, international exhibition in the UK by heading over to the website at www.smmexevent.com or contacting us on 020 7798 8500 or michael@smmexevent.com

BT Sport will showcase their new channels by broadcasting Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial match, celebrating the player’s 12 years at Manchester United, live. 

Additionally the match scheduled to take place August 9 against Sevilla at Old Trafford will be available to be streamed online around the world after BT Sport signed a deal with both the Manchester United centre-halfand Streamworks International.

Head of BT Sport, Simon Green, expressed the company’s excitement and highlighted the advantages of new technology: “We are delighted to be associated with a huge star like Rio… and we are thrilled that his testimonial is going to be live on BT Sport. To mark this special occasion, we’ve put together a groundbreaking plan to help make this game available to millions of fans across the globe, and it is something of a technology first for a game to be streamed live on this scale.”

The testimonial player himself also conveyed the importance of the match’s global audience with the match being “so widely available to all of the club’s supporters in so many countries”.

BT Sport will be showing 38 exclusively live football matches fromthe Barclays Premier League for three seasons, including 18 ‘top picks’ from August 2013 in additional to a myriad of other matches from across the world.

Bill Beaumont has been appointed the new chairman of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), suceeding Paul Murphy. 

Murphy will instead take up the role as RFU president. 

The decision was made in today’s annual general meeting, and Beaumont moved quickly to announce that the hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2015 is a bit priority. 

“I’m very honoured to be appointed chairman of the RFU,” Beaumont said in a statement on the RFU website. 

“The RFU staff and thousands of volunteers face three years of hard work ahead but the legacy of the England hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2015 will be enormous and it is our chance to showcase our game throughout the whole country.” 

Murphy believes Beaumont will be successful in his new role. “I wish Bill Beaumont all the best as my successor as chairman,” he said.

“He has my total support and I am sure he will bring his great experience to bear and lead the Board as effectively as he did the England team in days gone by.

“We’ve made enormous strides on and off the pitch in the last six months and I’m sure Bill will lead us forward to realise our full potential over the next few years,” added Murphy.

Beaumont is a former England captain earning 34 caps.