ESPN has announced that it will expand its relationship with the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) under a new five-year deal.

As part of the deal thenetwork’s previous coverage of the PBA Tour and the PBA League grow from 25.2 hours per year to 36.

The deal becomes effective with the 2013 World Series of Bowling, which will debut on ESPN on Sunday, December 1, 2013.  The new deal follows a successful inaugural season of the PBA League, which features eight team owners, including stars Chris Paul, Kevin Hart, Terrell Owens and Billie Jean King.   The second season of The PBA League will debut on ESPN on Sunday January 5, 2014.

The deal ensures that the PBA will remain on ESPN and marks the continuation of a partnership that dates back to 1979.

“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with the PBA, which dates back to 1979, ESPN’s inaugural year. Bowling makes for compelling television, and with last year’s addition of the PBA League, it has the potential for appealing to a broader audience,” said Jason Bernstein, ESPN Senior Director, Programming.

Chris Paul, one of the league’s founding owners, said, “I’m excited to be part of the PBA League’s second season and back on ESPN. When the League starts in January, I’m confident my guys will come out strong this year.” 

ESPN’s renewed and expanded commitment will help us grow our sport and build on the successful launch of the PBA League.  I’m thrilled that our fans will continue to see the world’s greatest bowlers on ESPN for many years,” said PBA CEO Geoff Reiss.

Reports have revealed that Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis earned a lucrative  £2.1 million last year, a 24% increase on the previous year.

Several British newspapers have suggested that Gazidis collected a £1.366 million basic salary, with a bonus of £675,000, benefits of £9,000 and pension contributions of £100,000 in 2011-12, swelling his pay packet by 24% on the previous year.

Reports suggest Gazidis’ huge income places him in the upper echelons of income for Premier League chief executives, with only Ferran Soriano, his opposite number at big-spending Manchester City, believed to have been paid a bigger salary last year.

His success in moulding a prudent and profitable business model is clearly appreciated by his employers, but a survey carried out by the influential Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST) suggests that admiration has not filtered down to the fans who help to pay his wages.

Some three-quarters of AST members said they were “not satisfied” with the club’s long-term vision, with 72% calling for the return of former chief executive David Dein to the Arsenal board.

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The Irish Football Association (IFA) has faced the brunt of JJB Sports financial difficulties, ampoule as they now are in search of a new Irish Cup sponsor.

More than 2,200 staff were made redundant by administrators KPMG on Monday after they closed 133 JJB stores and agreed to sell 20 remaining outlets.

The Irish FA has had a commercial deal with JJB for more than a decade and the firm has backed league and cup competitions.

The JJB sponsorship deal is not thought to be the largest enough to put the IFA in financial difficulties.

The Irish FA is expected to begin the search for a new sponsor of the Northern Ireland Irish Cup. JJB founded by Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, was also the official retail partner and kit supplier.

Simon Long has become the new Commercial Director for the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), to lead the LTA’s commercial programme, and the delivery of its world class tennis events.

Simon is the former CEO of North One Sport, where he oversaw the global promotion of the FIA World Rally Championship, with a worldwide television audience of over 600 million viewers, 4 million spectators attending the live events and over 5 million unique users on WRC.com.

Simon said of his appointment: “This is a hugely exciting new role in a sport which has so much potential for significant growth in Great Britain. I’m really looking forward to working with our commercial and media partners and the tennis community as a whole in a collective effort to broaden the reach and appeal of tennis both to existing and new fans and players.”

Simon was previously Sales Development Director, Europe at leading global drinks company, Diageo, where he also worked with a number of leading brands, customers and agencies both in the UK and overseas.

LTA CEO, Roger Draper, welcomed the appointment: “Simon is a business leader, and he will bring additional expertise and value to the Commercial team as we build for the next chapter of our work to grow and sustain British tennis, with particular emphasis on promotion and marketing the sport.”

Simon will start his role next week. He will work closely with Lawrence Robertson and Adam Mason, who will continue to deliver the LTA’s Major Events and Commercial programmes in their roles as Head of Commercial and Head of Sponsorship respectively.

Australian TV broadcaster Seven has secured exclusive broadcast rights to show Rugby League World Cup 2013.

Seven will broadcast all RLWC2013 matches in Australia on the 7mate channel. The deal is part of an all-encompassing agreement covering broadcast and subscription television rights, pilule IPTV, denture interconnected TV, medic catch-up TV, pay per view, video on demand and digital rights.

Tim Worner, CEO of Seven West Media, said: “Seven is delighted to have secured this agreement that will see us as the home of Rugby League World Cup 2013 in Australia.

“It is an extraordinary event and fits perfectly with our portfolio of major sports events on broadcast television platform and our developing online and mobile content platforms. A key to this agreement is our ability to deliver this across multiple platforms in formats that meet the demands of our audiences.

“It is fitting that we are entrusted with the Rugby League World Cup 2013, as it is 50 years this year since the late, great Rex Mossop joined Seven after an extraordinary career in league and union, and defined league television coverage in Australia.”

Nigel Wood, RLWC2013 Tournament Director said: “It is great news for the tournament that Seven will be showing every game and on so many platforms. Sports fans in Australia know they can rely on Seven’s experience of covering not just domestic and international Rugby League but other world class sporting events too.

“We know we’ll be staging the best Rugby League World Cup to date, with competitive matches in front of passionate fans. The tournament now has a compelling broadcast offer in both hemispheres.”

RLWC2013 will be broadcast in the UK by the BBC and Premier Sports.

The former Rangers Football Club owed in excess of £94m in unpaid tax and penalties, administrators Duff & Phelps have revealed 

HM Revenue and Customs’ claim against the club totalled £94,426,217 – while Duff & Phelps are claiming £3,121,683 in fees.

Over £170,000 was paid to public relations companies for media consultancy as the club were plunged into administration.

A statement from Duff & Phelps read: “The joint administrators have continued to review the claims made by HMRC in the administration.

“The claims are largely made up of determinations issued by HMRC in accordance with Regulation 80, penalties and outstanding PAYE/NIC.

“The joint administrators have adjudicated on these claims and confirmed to HMRC that for voting purposes, their claim will be admitted for voting purposes at £94,426,217.22.”

The majority of that figure relates to the old club’s use of Employee Benefit Trusts, on which HMRC claimed unpaid tax and penalties in excess of £49m.