Rangers chief executive Charles Green has announced that the club will not be attending a Scottish Premier League hearing on Tuesday regarding alleged undisclosed payments to players.

With the newco at Rangers having been snubbed by the top flight in the wake of their financial troubles and forced to start from scratch in the Scottish Third Division, Green says the SPL hold no ‘legal power or authority over the club’.

“The Rangers Football Club Limited will not attend tomorrow’s hearing (Tuesday, September 11) of the SPL-appointed Commission investigating the circumstances surrounding the use of Employee Benefit Trusts by previous owners of the Club,” Green said in a statement released on the club’s official website.

“The club cannot continue to participate in an SPL process that we believe is fundamentally misconceived.

“Neither the SPL, nor it’s commission, has any legal power or authority over the club because it is not in the SPL.

“For that reason it has no legal basis on which to appoint its commission. The club ceased to be subject to the SPL’s rules when it was ejected from its league.

“Our lawyers have made that point repeatedly to the SPL in correspondence and yet our requests for an explanation from the SPL have been completely ignored. The SPL’s silence on these issues is deafening. The outcome of the SPL’s process will have no legal effect.

“First and foremost, I would like to explain this decision to our supporters across the world whose loyalty and commitment to the club in very difficult times has been unwavering and heart-warming for all those involved at the club. Our decision regarding this commission is approved unanimously by the board and the manager Ally McCoist.

“Since the decision was taken by HMRC on June 14 to reject administrators’ proposals for a Company Voluntary Arrangement, the fate of Rangers FC lay firmly and clearly in the ability of the consortium I led to form a new company and corporate entity that would ensure that Rangers had a future as a football club.

“At all times we were fully transparent in our dealings with the football authorities, be they the SFA, SPL or the SFL.

“There was no ambiguity whatsoever regarding the status of the company when it made an application to join the SPL.

“As we all know, 10 SPL clubs decided against the admission of the new company to the league and The Rangers Football Club Limited subsequently applied to the SFL for membership and we are grateful for their acceptance.

“In short, what was decided by the SPL membership is that Rangers was finished as a member of the SPL.

“Despite this, the SPL now see the new owners of the company, and the new company itself, which owns all the assets of Rangers FC – including SPL championship titles – as fair game for punishment for matters that have nothing to do with us at all.”

 

The man who fronted Gold Coast’s successful bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, drugs Mark Stockwell, recipe has been sacked as chairman of the organising committee.

The Liberal National Party state government confirmed the new board would not include developer Mark Stockwell, anesthetist a former Olympic swimming medallist and past president of the Property Council’s Queensland division.

The move comes in the wake of a rumoured disagreement between Mr Stockwell and senior LNP figures over the planned location for the athletes’ village.

In April, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported there was significant opposition to housing the village at Parklands, with the Gold Coast Harness Racing Club, the Gold Coast Show Society and Big Day Out organisers among those calling for a different location to be chosen.

But Mr Stockwell dug in on the location, telling the newspaper the bid was too advanced and contracts had already been signed.

He argued Parklands was big enough to host the village and the homes would have a strong resale value given it was close to key infrastructure.

Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey made no mention of the matter in her media statement, instead saying it was time to “transition to a board that has the confidence of the government, the Commonwealth Games Association, and the public”.

She said she would not put Mr Stockwell’s name forward for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games board due to be considered by Cabinet tomorrow because it was time for “a fresh start”.

The board would include four nominees from the state government and four nominees from the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

The confirmation of Mr Stockwell’s exclusion comes two months after Ms Stuckey appeared to endorse him shortly after she was sworn in as a minister.

“As the Minister for the Commonwealth Games, I look forward to working closely with chairman Mark Stockwell and his team to ensure the event sees the Gold Coast, and Queensland, shine as a major tourism, sporting, events and business destination,” she said in a media release on April 4.

In her latest statement, Ms Stuckey acknowledged Mr Stockwell’s role in successfully steering the bid for the Gold Coast games, but said the government was working hard “to strike the right balance” with the new board.

“To ensure that these games are delivered on time, and importantly on budget, the LNP Newman government needs to put in place a board that will quickly get on with the major infrastructure planning and delivery of this billion dollar event,” she said.

“What is needed now for the Gold Coast Games are well-credentialled people who have qualifications in law, finance, development, and the commercial sector along with prominent sporting people who can make a significant contribution in the building and operations of the games.”

In December, the former Labor government announced the appointment of Mr Stockwell as chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, in the wake of his success heading the bid.

The former government said he was appointed on the recommendation of then-premier Anna Bligh and the President of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday called on the Newman government to better explain its decision to dump Mr Stockwell.

“I sincerely hope that the decision did not rest on the fact Mr Stockwell was appointed by the previous government,” she said.

“Mr Stockwell is highly regarded in the business and sporting arenas, which just adds to the need for a fuller explanation from the government.

“Queenslanders and other Australians need to know that vital decisions about the 2018 Games are being taken on a sound and objective basis.”

The list of appointees to the board is due to go to Cabinet tomorrow and is expected to be made public after being endorsed at an Executive Council meeting on Thursday.

Portsmouth administrators have revealed they have received a bid from an unamed Middle East group looking to buy the League One club.

Pompey have been lounging in administration since February and remain threatened with liquidation unless a buyer can be found.

Fans’ group the Portsmouth Supporters’ Trust and former owner Balram Chainrai also want to take over at Fratton Park, with both parties having until the end of this week to finalise their bids.

But administrators PKF are now considering an offer from the new consortium.

A PKF spokesman told The News: “We can confirm we have had a preliminary offer from a Middle East group and we are currently seeking clarification of funding before we can take it any further.”

Pompey will be deducted 10 points by the Football League when they eventually come out of administration even though they won their first game of the season, 3-0 at Crawley on Saturday.

Scottish Athletics have announced ultra runner Ian Beattie as their new Non-Executive Chairman.

The Edinburgh-based chartered accountant with vast business experience has been appointed to help lead the governing body for athletics in this country.

Beattie’s appointment to head the Board follows on from last week’s unveiling of Stephen Maguire as ‘Director of Coaching’ in a new approach on the performance side of Scottish Athletics.

The new Chairman has served on the Scottish Athletics Board previously and is a keen enthusiast of the sport. In his professional life, canada ed he is a CA and Chief Operating Officer of Lindsays Solicitors.

Currently a member of Harmeny AC, therapy he previously served as a treasurer with Troon Tortoises AC, adiposity | Central AC, and Strathearn Harriers. An ultra runner, he is the race director of the West Highland Way Race, and has himself completed the event eight times. He has run 85 marathons and ultra marathons and has been involved in various clubs. scottishathletics see his experience of the sport in Scotland, his business expertise and leadership as hugely beneficial as the countdown intensifies towards London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.

Beattie has now stepped down as Vice-Chairman of Sport Scotland.

Ian Beattie said: “I am thrilled to be appointed as Chair of Scottish Athletics. It’s a sport that I have been involved in for many years and, with so much happening  over the next two years, it is a wonderful time to be involved in athletics.

“I have enjoyed my time as Vice-Chair of Sport Scotland immeasurably, and I am really looking forward to bringing the experience I have accrued both there and in business to Scottish Athletics.”

Nigel Holl, Chief Executive of Scottish Athletics, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ian Beattie as our new Chairman.

“He’s a well-known figure within the sport already and we will look to benefit from that profile and his contacts.

“Ian has held a number of senior positions in the Scottish business community, which is also helpful, and he was on our board as a director at one stage.

“He also has experience in the wider field of Scottish and UK Sport – with Sport Scotland, UK Sport, and in 2003 was a consultant to the UK Athletics Board for a period of time.

“All of these factors make him a very welcome addition to our board as we look to build on the legacy of two massive events in London and Glasgow.”

Louise Martin,  Chair of Sport Scotland, said: “Ian Beattie was highly regarded as Vice-Chair of Sport Scotland, and I thank him profusely for the diligence, commitment, and aptitude he has displayed throughout his six-year tenure on the Board – four years of which were in his role as Vice-Chair.

“I wish Ian every success in his new post as Chair for Scottish Athletics, and I know that his previous experience as a Director with the governing body and his personal interest in the sport will help him enormously in his new role.

“It’s a very exciting time for sport in Scotland with the London Olympics and Paralympics nearly upon us and just two years until Glasgow 2014, and I’m delighted that Ian will continue to play an active role in these events.”

After having attracted a huge amount of interest, doctor the 50 places for the first iSportconnect Directors Club Germany on November 17, 2011, in Munich are sold out.

Delegates from BMW and BMW Motorsport, Allianz, 1. FC Nürnberg, EON, Osram, Deutscher Eishockey Bund, Nürnberg Ice Tigers, TSV 1860 München, Sky Deutschland and Thomas Sabo confirmed their participation.

Sonja Kreye, iSportconnect Director of German Operations is looking forward to an exciting event: “I guess that the topic of ‘hospitality & the law’ is one reason that helped attracting that much interest. Unclear compliance rules when it comes to inviting business partners to sports events are one of the biggest threats of today’s sports and sponsorship industry.

“Due to the support of Germany’s association of the biggest sponsors, S 20 e. V., I am pleased to present some great speakers and panellists with Dr. Christian Deuringer, Head of Global Brand Management Allianz SE, tolimit agency CEO Hans-Bernd Kamps, Deloitte representative Stefan Ludwig and S 20 e. V. General Manager Josef Stadtfeld. I am looking forward to some great discussions.”

The iSportconnect Directors Club is iSportconnect’s live-event format for the sports industry and will be organized in Germany three times per year from 2012 in Munich. Further Directors Clubs will follow in New York, London, Barcelona and other major cities in the world.

To stay updated on the first iSportconnect Directors Club Germany, watch out for the conference video and post-event release.

Confirmed guests include:

Christian Deuringer – Head of Global Brand Management, Allianz SE Joseph Fesenmair – Partner, Bird & Bird Jörg Kottmeier – Head of Sports Communications, BMW AG, Ivo von Geyr – Head of Sponsorship, BMW Motorsport, Volkhart Thiemann – Sponsorship Acquisition Manager. BMW Motorsport, Christian Timmer – Managing Director, CTC, Stefan Ludwig – Director, Deloitte, Franz Reindl – Managing Director, Deutscher Eishockey Bund, Claus Gröbner – CEO, EHC München, Marcel Porsche – Head of Marketing & Sales, EHC München, Diane Weiß –  EONDirk Schimmel – Sports Head,  Ethosgroup, Andreas Dorsch –  Managing Director, GMVD Marketing GmbH (Golf Management Verband Deutschland), Walter Mertes –  Board Member, ITR, Jan Denecken –  CEO Events, Jochen Schweizer Events GmbH, Mario Hamm – KPMG Peter Klodt – Head of Compliance, MAN SE, Susanne Fischer – Head of Marketing, Messe München, Gundula  Klaumünzner –  Manager New Business, Neon Brand Communications GmbH, Christoph Klaiber –  CEO, Nord Event GmbH Lorenz Funk – CEO,  Nürnberg IceTigers Eishockey GmbH Silvia Matthäus – CEO, Ocoo Christian Cohrs – Corp. Governance, Sponsoring, Osram AG, Guido Stalmann –   CEO, SKH Brian Sullivan –  CEO,  Sky Deutschland AG, Carsten Schmidt – Head of Sport and New Business, Sky Deutschland AG, Johanna Bormann – General Manager, Sponsorplan GmbH Peter Mruk –  General Manager, Sponsorplan GmbH Christian Romberg – Sponsorship, SpVgg Unterhaching Rainer Engel –  CEO, The Bureng Christoph Sandner – Sponsorship, Thomas Sabo GmbH & Co Hans-Bernd Kamps – CEO, tolimit

German Bundesliga team, arthritis Hamburg have today revealed fears about their current financial state following new expensive transfers including the signing of Rafael van der Vaart.

Chairman Carl-Edgar Jarchow has admitted concern over the financial impact their summer transfers have created.

The German outfit splashed out around £16.7million on the captures of Van der Vaart from Tottenham, Petr Jiracek from Wolfsburg and Milan Badelj from Dinamo Zagreb in the transfer window just passed.

The signings were made after Hamburg made an unsuccessful start to the latest Bundesliga campaign, while also crashing out of the German cup.

Jarchow admits the money spent is likely to hit the club hard and expects them to be operating in the red.

He told Norddeutscher Rundfunk: “This (the extra money spent on players) is a burden for me. I cannot deal with it that easily.

“Fortunately these players are all of an age that means they will have certain value in the future.

“But I definitely fear that this will see us operating in the red. No doubt.”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the hiring of Caroline Kuyper as the International Olympic Committee’s new Finance Director.

A Swiss national of Dutch origin, Caroline joins after many years with Nestlé, the world’s largest food and nutrition company, where she most recently held the position of Head of Finance for Research and Development, Innovation and Technology. Prior to joining Nestlé in 2003, Caroline worked in Finance and Business Development at Philip Morris International from where she brings considerable business and audit experience.

She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Lausanne (HEC) and attended Executive Development programmes at IMD Business School and the London Business School.

An avid sports fan, Caroline has competed in sailing, alpine skiing and snowboarding, including the ISF Snowboard World Cup Tour and Masters (1991-1993) and the ISF Snowboard World Championships (1993).

She will begin work at the IOC in July.

by Ismail Uddin

sale viagra helvetica, price sans-serif;”>Die 50 Plätze für den ersten iSportconnect Directors Club Germany am 17. November 2011 in München waren schnell vergriffen. Vertreter von BMW und BMW Motorsport, hospital der Allianz, dem 1. FC Nürnberg, EON, Osram, dem Deutscher Eishockey Bund, den Nürnberg Ice Tigers, dem TSV 1860 München, Sky Deutschland und Thomas Sabo haben sich für die Veranstaltung registriert.

Sonja Kreye, iSportconnect Director of German Operations freut sich auf einen spannenden Abend: „Ich denke, dass das Thema ‚Hospitality & Strafrecht’ ein Grund dafür war, dass sich die Veranstaltung so großem Zuspruch erfreut. Fragen nach der Rechtssicherheit bei Einladungen von Geschäftspartnern zu Sportveranstaltungen sind schließlich eine der akuten Bedrohungen der modernen Sport- und Sponsoringindustrie.“

„Mit Hilfe der Sponsorenvereinigung S 20 e. V. konnte ich einige großartige Redner und Podiumsteilnehmer akquirieren und freue mich, Dr. Dr. Christian Deuringer, Head of Global Brand Management Allianz SE, den Geschäftsführer der Agentur tolimit Hans-Bernd Kamps, den Deloitte Director Stefan Ludwig und den S 20 e. V. Geschäftsführer Josef Stadtfeld zu begrüßen. Das werden sicherlich spannende Einsichten und Diskussionen.”

Der iSportconnect Directors Club ist das Live-Event-Format von iSportconnect’ und wird in Deutschland ab dem kommenden Jahr dreimal jährlich in München stattfinden. Weitere iSportconnect Directors Clubs wird es in Kürze auch in New York, London und Barcelona geben.

Bleiben Sie auf dem Laufenden über den iSportconnect Directors Club Germany und schauen Sie sich nach der Veranstaltung das Video an.

Scottish Premier League team, St Mirren have rejected a bid from fans for their stake in the club.

The consortium, which includes chairman Stewart Gilmour, have turned down a revised £1.25million bid for their combined 52% shareholding. The 10000 Hours community interest company had pledges of financial backing from more than 1,000 supporters.

A statement on the club’s official website read: “After numerous proposals the consortium of majority shareholders in St Mirren Football Club Limited has decided that in the best interests of SMFC they are unable to accept the final offer from the 10000 Hours group.

“The longer this went on and with the numerous changes that were made to the proposals it appeared that most of the 10000 Hours’ major backers seemed to be having doubts about the concept. It became clear that it appeared to be becoming more difficult for the 10000 Hours board to come up with an appropriate offer which would have given confidence to the selling consortium that their proposals were sustainable.

“The consortium have always stressed and continue to stress that they will do their utmost to make sure that it is the right people who buy their shares in SMFC. There has been press speculation with regard to other parties’ interest in the shares and at this point the consortium would like to clarify that they have spoken to many different parties, but up until now none has come up with an appropriate offer which satisfies the consortium’s criteria.

“The consortium’s shares will continue to be available to the right person but until that happens they will continue to work with the rest of the board in the best interests of SMFC.”