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.

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Global Sports Forum Barcelona (GSFB), the world’s leading exchange platform for sporting movements, has today announced that London 2012 Paralympic and Olympic Games hopeful, Oscar Pistorius, will take part in the 4^th edition of the annual Forum, 7 – 9 March, 2012.

Double leg amputee Pistorius, who has achieved the “A” qualifying standard for the London 2012 Olympic Games, will join many of the world’s leading brands, government institutions, rights holders and governing bodies from sport already signed-up to attend the Forum, which has quickly established itself as one of the industry’s most influential thought leadership platforms.

The Paralympic legend, known affectionately as “The Blade Runner” will address the audience to talk about his development within the last year, which includes his remarkable achievement of competing in both the able-bodied and disability categories at the 2011 World Athletics Championships.

Lucien Boyer, General Commissioner of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, said:

“The past 12 months have clearly been huge for Oscar Pistorius and we are delighted to welcome him back to the GSFB for the second year running, so he can update us on his achievements and inspire our delegates with his incredible personal story.”

“Our forum represents a unique opportunity for sporting legends to stand side by side and discuss the events shaping the sports industry, so I look forward to Oscar adding great value to these conversations.”

Pistorius joins an inspiring line-up of speakers already confirmed to take part in the Forum, which provides a year-long community for people to debate the latest issues and share opinions on sport. Ex-Footballer turned actor, Eric Cantona, LOCOG Chairman, Sebastian Coe, FC Barcelona President, Sandro Rosell, YouTube’s Head of Sports Content, Claude Ruibal, England 2015 CEO, Paul Vaughan and many more are already confirmed to take part.

Commenting on his role at the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, Oscar Pistorius said:

“I am very happy to be back in Barcelona for a second year running. With London 2012 nearly upon us, it is incredible to see how far Paralympic sport has come since this time last year, particularly since my appeal to compete alongside able bodied athletes was sanctioned by the IAAF. Competing at the Olympics remains to be my main purpose in life and I look forward to sharing my experiences of the last 12 months with the GSFB community.”

In an exclusive video interview for the GSFB community, Pistorius also gave his thoughts on qualifying for the Olympic Games in 2012. To view the video, in which he also talks about competing in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, go to the GSFB You Tube channel at: www.youtube.com/GSFBarcelona

Oscar Pistorius talks about his chances to qualify for the Olympic Games

Early-bird discount

The Global Sports Forum Barcelona 2012 will take place at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya (PCC) in Barcelona from 7 – 9 March.  Interested delegates are invited to register online at: http://globalsportsforum.mediactive.fr and follow the on-screen instructions.  A special early-bird discount of €450 + VAT for an individual three-day pass is currently available to anyone registering

before 29 January, 2012.  Five person Corporate passes (€1,800 + VAT) and special discounts for NGO representatives and students (€250 + VAT) also available.

Members of the press are invited to attend free of charge.

To view the latest list of speakers confirmed to take part in the Global Sports Forum Barcelona 2012, visit www.globalsportsforum.org/2012speakers