Manchester United have implored for stricter financial boundaries in England as Premier League chairmen will discuss spending controls today.

A range of limits will be presented to the top-flight clubs in a meeting that could set the bar for the future of football.

And having initiated the move earlier in the summer, United are being backed by fellow Greater Manchester club Wigan Athletic to discuss the options in further detail.

Latics chairman Dave Whelan said that control was needed urgently to prevent Premier League champions Manchester City and Champions League winners Chelsea from continuing to outspend the rest.

Whelan said: “This proposal has come from Manchester United, I think City haven shaken them up a little bit but I think there should be some controls on spending.

“Some clubs are spending way more than they can afford and get into trouble – look at Portsmouth.

“The Premier League is so big and powerful and there is so much money around that the clubs try and chase it. Something has to be done so we will support these measures.”

The decision would come as a serious measure for the Citizens as their billionaire owners have joined Roman Abramovich in powering their teams to the top of the game while others have been left in their wake.

And two groups of ten groups – split up to reflect their size and region – will be created to discuss the issues ahead of UEFA’s financial fair play rules for Champions League and Europa Cup teams – which restricts clubs to spending what the earn.

United’s chief executive David Gill has strongly supported UEFA’s decision and also looked at the Championship as an example for the Premier League to follow.

“A lot of clubs would be happy just to introduce to the financial fair play regulations into the Premier League,” said Gill. “Now, some wouldn’t, but that’s a debate that has to have happened. And it will happen.

“If you look at it we’ve got financial regulations in the league below us, the championship, and the competition above us, the Champions League so we need to do it.

“The Premier League being the best league in the world, the most commercially effective league in the world, I think there’s a real opportunity to introduce some sensible rules that effectively improve and enhance the long term or medium term financial stability.”

More than half of the Premier League clubs last season lost money – and despite their title success, City finished with an eye-watering loss of £197million, ahead of Chelsea on £68million and Liverpool on £49million.

Queens Park Rangers have snagged Manchester City’s Mike Rigg as the club’s new technical director.

Rigg, 43, has had a similar role at the Etihad Stadium since 2008, but he has opted to reunite with QPR Manager Mark Hughes. 

He has worked with Hughes at City, Blackburn and the Welsh national team.

“I am very pleased to be here,” Rigg told the club’s official website, www.qpr.co.uk.

“When I sat down with the owners and Mark recently they sold the project at Queens Park Rangers to me.

“I see where they want to take the club and it is something I want to be a part of.

“I have worked with Mark in a number of different roles so I have a very good understanding of what he wants and what he needs.

“Player acquisition is a big part of football and it is where an enormous amount of investment is made. That’s where we must get it right.

“My role involves a mixture of looking at the immediate needs for the football club as well as trying to make sure we have a long-term plan in place for bringing players through into the first team.”

Rigg’s role will see him charged with identifying and accruing talent at every age group.

The former Sheffield Wednesday academy manager will also work with all the club’s departments to enhance the player development process in order to bring quality players into the first team, as well as the Hoops’ various age group squads.

QPR chief executive officer Philip Beard hailed Rigg’s appointment and believes he will prove a vital acquisition for the club.

“This is a key appointment for the short- and long-term future of the football club,” he said of the former Welsh FA technical director and chief scout at Blackburn.

“Mike has a proven track record at both domestic and international level and having worked closely with Mark in the past, knows how the manager works and the standards he sets.

“This appointment outlines the club’s commitment to building for the future, in support of the first team, as well as our ever-improving academy set-up.

“We are committed to nurturing our own home-grown players over the coming years and part of Mike’s remit will be to do that, as well as unearthing previously undiscovered talent to go straight into the first-team set-up.”

by Ismail Uddin

prostate helvetica, sans-serif;”>Die 50 Teilnehmerplätze des ersten iSportconnect Directors Club Germany am 17. November 2011 in München sind nahezu belegt. Nur noch wenige Plätze sind frei für interessierte Vertreter der Sport- und Sponsoringindustrie. Bereits zugesagt haben Vertreter von BMW und BMW Motorsport, der Allianz, dem 1. FC Nürnberg, EON, Osram, dem Deutschen Eishockey Bund, den Nürnberg Ice Tigers, dem TSV 1860 München, Sky Deutschland und Thomas Sabo.

Im Fokus des ersten iSportconnect Directors Club Germany steht das Thema ‚Hospitality & Strafrecht‘, zu dem die Sponsorenvereinigung S 20 e. V. kürzlich einen Leitfaden veröffentlicht hat. Fragen nach der Rechtssicherheit bei Einladungen von Geschäftspartnern zu Sportveranstaltungen stellen sich schließlich nicht nur Sponsoren, sondern gleichermaßen auch Rechtehalter, Clubs, Vereine und Sportverbände.

Dr. Christian Deuringer, Head of Global Brand Management Allianz SE und Mitglied der Sponsorenvereinigung S 20 e. V. eröffnet den Abend mit einer Keynote über den S 20 Leitfaden. Danach folgt eine Podiumsdiskussion mit Agenturinhaber Hans-Bernd Kamps, Deloitte Vertreter Stefan Ludwig und S 20 e. V. Geschäftsführer Josef Stadtfeld.

Für die Anmeldung zum iSportconnect Directors Club Germany registrieren Sie sich bitte unter dev.isportconnect.com/directorsclubgermany.

Liverpool supporters’ union Spirit Of Shankly has urged on the club’s American owners to appoint a chief executive based in the city.

The fans’ group has released a statement after a frustrating transfer deadline day left manager Brendan Rodgers with only two senior strikers.

Rodgers allowed Andy Carroll to leave for a season’s loan at West Ham on the understanding that a replacement forward would come in before last Friday’s deadline.

But Boston-based owners Fenway Sports Group failed to come up with the funds to bring in either Clint Dempsey or Daniel Sturridge, to the frustration of Rodgers and the club’s supporters.

That has increased the pressure on managing director Ian Ayre, who has not escaped criticism for Liverpool’s problems in the transfer market.

Principal owner John W Henry wrote an open letter to fans on Monday outlining FSG’s transfer policy and admitting they had made mistakes since buying the club in October 2010.

The Spirit of Shankly group believes those mistakes were caused by the lack of an ownership presence in the city – and has called on FSG to act on this.

An extract from their statement said: “Spirit of Shankly reiterates its stance that the position of manager at Liverpool Football Club should be supported with all of the resources at the club’s disposal.

“However, events of last Friday and the subsequent ‘open letter’ from the club’s principal owner, John W Henry, indicate that almost two years into FSG’s ownership of the club this is not yet the case.

“As pointed out by the union in May, there remains no ownership presence on this side of the Atlantic. It is our opinion that this situation has led directly to the ‘mistakes’ alluded to in Mr Henry’s open letter.

“Should the club’s absentee owners not wish to establish a full-time base in Liverpool, it remains imperative that they appoint a chief executive of a calibre commensurate with the club’s global status, to act with the full authority of the owners in their absence.

“Without this chief executive, it is far from sufficient for a club of Liverpool’s stature to have a part-time chairman (Tom Werner), based on another continent, with various other interests, and from whom little or nothing of consequence is seen or heard.”

The statement added: “If the board is based in Boston, why has no Liverpool-based chief executive been appointed to oversee the club’s affairs?”

It concluded: “With key questions continuing to go unanswered, Spirit of Shankly suggests it is time for Tom Werner to be held accountable as chairman of Liverpool Football Club. After all, the buck stops with him, not with those acting with his authority and not with people no longer at the club.”

After a tumultuous 16-month search, USA Track & Field (USATF) have finally found a new chief executive, appointing ex-board member Max Siegel to the post.

Siegel has extensive marketing ties to sports and entertainment.

Siegel, whose selection comes at a crucial time with the organization preparing for the London Olympics, did not shy away from his predecessor’s stated goal of 30 athletics medals for the American team at the July 27-August 12 Games.

“We said 30 medals and we are sticking by the 30 medals,” Siegel, the founder of Indianapolis-based Max Siegel Inc, said during a conference call.

“The thing the organization does better than anyone else is field the number one track team in the world.”

Siegel, 47, received a two-year contract with a base salary of $500,000 as the successor to the embattled Doug Logan, who was fired in 2010. Chief Operating Officer Mike McNees had been serving as the interim CEO.

Siegel, a unanimous selection of the board, will take over on May 1 with a focus on increasing marketing and sponsorships.

But changes need to come in how USATF interacts with its commercial partners as it tries to diversify its revenue opportunities, according to Siegel.

USATF’s first black CEO, Siegel and his firm have been under contract to USA Track & Field since October to revamp marketing, sponsorship and broadcasting. He served on the USATF board from February 2009 until resigning last September.

The contact will terminate with his employment, Siegel said.

While some in the Olympic community raised concerns about his hiring being a conflict of interest, USATF and U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) officials said Siegel had their full support in his new role.

“The real issue is that Max was not on the board when he was selected for this position,” USATF president and chair Stephanie Hightower said in a statement.

“Countless members of the track & field community had suggested that we consider Max for the position, citing his success as an executive, his rolodex and his ability to bring people together to get things done.”

USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun said the timing of the selection was important after the long off-and-on search.

“Having a CEO in place will add a measure of stability as we complete our preparations for London,” Blackmun said. “Max will have our full support and we look forward to working with USATF as they continue to refine their governance model and find ways to enhance the effectiveness of the organization.”

Siegel’s background includes presidency of global operations for motor racing’s Dale Earnhardt Inc – one of NASCAR’s leading franchises – and as a music company executive where he helped oversee the careers of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Usher.

Hall of Famers Tony Gywnn (baseball) and the late Reggie White (American football) have been among his sports clients.

By Michael Cunnah

Dennis’s autobiography is a compelling read for any football fan. It gives a fascinating insight into football and what it’s like to be part of the “beautiful game”. Dennis is well qualified to write this book, having played at the highest level for many years and later becoming a Director of Manchester City FC.

Dennis admits to being a very fastidious person throughout his career and it is this attention to detail and meticulous preparation which benefits his autobiography. His recall of everything is crystal clear and the book is well written so that it is never dull and moves along at a fast pace.

For fans of Sunderland AFC and Manchester City FC, this is a must read as it provides real insight into specific eras in the history of these two clubs. For fans of other clubs Dennis has views about the game and how it is run. He passionately believes that footballers, once they are retired, should have a bigger role in the running of the game and clubs in particular.

Dennis is concerned that “the grey suits”, as he calls the business men who manage clubs, don’t really understand the game and therefore make basic errors regarding the playing side. This is an interesting assertion which is worthy of consideration. However, I am left with the impression that Dennis as a Director, is more of a suit than he realises and that may be no bad thing. I suspect that Dennis is quite rare in turning his knowledge of the game into hard rules and guidelines for clubs to follow. There aren’t many footballers who have made, or could make, this transition.

Dennis is, of course, right that the “suits” haven’t played the game and don’t have the same insight, however it is also true that football people i.e. managers, coaches and players often shroud the game and its playing side in mystery. They encourage the belief that everyone is searching for the magic ingredient for success and only a few will find it, that this is an art not a science. Someone in Dennis’s mould will be invaluable to the “suits” as a bridge between the Board room and the dressing room.  He is someone who can simplify the game.

It is no surprise that performing such a role led to Dennis falling out with some of his friends and ex-colleagues and Dennis doesn’t try to hide this. Football is like that on and off the pitch, this isn’t unique to Dennis. It is, after all, a game of beliefs and opinions and everybody has different ones!

There should be room in the game for someone as experienced, clear thinking and articulate as Dennis. Until he returns to the game we’ll have to make do with this compelling insight which he has given to us.

By Michael Cunnah

 

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Dennis Tueart’s autobiography, My Football Journey, is published by Vision Sports Publishing (RRP £18.99). Dennis’s royalties from the book will be donated to the teenage and young adult cancer unit at The Christie cancer centre.

 

The book can be bought for the special price of £13.49 (plus P&P.) here>>

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TSN has renewed its broadcast deal with the PGA TOUR through to the 2018 golf calendar.

As part of the new deal TSN retains exclusive early round coverage of the RBC Canadian Open along with broadcast rights to other popular PGA TOUR events including the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM and the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.

This PGA TOUR deal complements TSN’s extensive live coverage of all of Golf’s Majors – THE MASTERS, U.S. OPEN, the OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, and the PGA CHAMPIONSHIP – as well as the Ryder Cup, continuing to make TSN home to the biggest and most prestigious tournaments in golf.

“The PGA TOUR, its sponsors, and players have been wonderful partners and we are thrilled to extend our relationship and bring Canadians coverage of the world’s top professional Tour,” said Shawn Redmond, Vice-President of Programming, TSN. “Not only are we looking forward to covering the action from the PGA TOUR and the Majors, but we are also excited to expand our coverage and shine a national spotlight on the PGA TOUR Canada by showcasing its tournaments and rising stars.”

“The PGA TOUR is delighted to enter into this agreement with TSN,” said Rick Anderson, PGA TOUR Executive Vice-President of Television & Digital Media.  “Canada has always demonstrated a passion for PGA TOUR golf and this partnership will allow our fans to consume our product on one of the premier sports properties in Canada. The PGA TOUR is committed to golf in Canada and we are delighted to have TSN as our partner.”

As part of the new deal with the PGA TOUR, TSN2 will broadcast THIS IS PGA TOUR CANADA, a series of half-hour magazine-style programs highlighting the events, prominent players, tournament courses and locales of the 2013 PGA TOUR Canada season.

Bayer Leverkusen plans to introduce a separate television feed for its matches and plans to target Chinese and Japanese advertisers through the new feed.

The club’s new Asia feed will originate from a completely different set of cameras at home matches and these cameras will be positioned to maximise the exposure of Asian advertisers that buy into the feed.

The club’s managing director, Wolfgang Holzhäuser said the move to innovate its broadcast to appeal to Asia was because advertising opportunities in its local markets, particularly German, had been exhausted.

The club hopes to launch the new broadcast in the 2013/14 season. {jcomments on}

 

The Rugby Football Union has appointed Andrew Coslett as Chairman of England Rugby 2015 (ER 2015), adiposity the tournament organising company that will deliver Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.

Cosslett, the former Chief Executive Officer of InterContinental Hotels Group plc, who has held the post of Interim Chairman, takes up the role in April 2012.

After a comprehensive selection process, Cosslett was chosen for his international business experience and leadership skills built over 30 years in consumer facing industries. In addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer of InterContinental Hotels Group, between 2005-2011, Cosslett was a Board member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council, a member of the President’s Committee of the Confederation of British Industry and a Board member of the International Tourism Partnership.

Before this Cosslett spent 14 years with Cadbury Schweppes in roles including: Chairman, Australia; Chief Executive, Asia Pacific; Managing Director, Great Britain and Ireland and President, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Cosslett, together with Paul Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer ER 2015, will lead the ER 2015 Board which includes: RFU Chief Executive Officer, Ian Ritchie; RFU Chief Financial Officer, Stephen Brown; Professional Game Board Chairman, Ian Metcalfe; Injured Players Foundation Chairman and former RFU President, John Owen; RFU Council member and Chairman of the Championship Clubs Geoff Irvine and Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office and the UK Government’s Chief Operating Officer, Ian Watmore.

Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Rugby World Cup Limited welcomes this key appointment which represents an important step in the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2015. The successful delivery of one of the world’s largest sporting events is founded on partnership, teamwork, vision and strong leadership. Andy certainly possesses all the necessary attributes to oversee the delivery of what promises to be a special tournament. We are looking forward to continuing to work in partnership with Andy, Paul Vaughan and the England Rugby 2015 team to deliver an outstanding Rugby World Cup in 2015.”

Cosslett commented: “I am passionate about the game and delighted to be able to play my part in delivering Rugby World Cup 2015. England 2015 is a great challenge but a tremendous opportunity and I look forward to working with Paul Vaughan, England Rugby 2015, the Rugby Football Union and Rugby World Cup Limited to deliver what we intend to be the best Rugby World Cup yet.”

Ian Ritchie, Rugby Football Union Chief Executive, added: “Andy Cosslett’s attributes and experience will no doubt bring huge benefits to the role of England Rugby 2015 Chairman. The Rugby World Cup in England provides a unique and very exciting opportunity and we look forward to working closely with Andy, England Rugby 2015 and Rugby World Cup Limited to help create a legacy that will benefit the sport for generations to come.”

Paul Vaughan, England Rugby 2015 Chief Executive, stated: “I am sure Andy Cosslett will make a great Chairman for England Rugby 2015. The international business and marketing skills that he brings to the Board will continue to be invaluable in his new role as Chairman. He has great empathy with the Game and I think we will make a great team.”

by Ismail Uddin

Nachdem sich seit der Gründung von isportconnect.com bereits mehr als 13.000 Vertreter der Sportindustrie registriert haben, prostate geht die Online Plattform nun den nächsten Schritt auf dem Weg zum führenden weltweiten Netzwerk der Sportbranche. Die Veranstaltungsreihe ‚iSportconnect Directors Club‘ startet mit einem ersten Live-Event in München und transferiert dabei die virtuelle Welt in Networking zum Anfassen.

Der iSportconnect Directors Club Germany wird ab 2012 dreimal jährlich organisiert. Die Kick-Off Veranstaltung findet am 17. November 2011 in München statt. Weitere iSportconnect Directors Clubs in New York, order London und Barcelona folgen und bilden somit regionale Anlaufstellen, ampoule um die aktuellen Themen der Branche in entspannter Atmosphäre zu diskutieren.

Thema des Kick-Off-Events in München ist ‚Hospitality & Strafrecht‘. Fragen nach der Rechtssicherheit bei Einladungen von Geschäftspartnern zu Sportveranstaltungen stellen sich schließlich nicht nur Sponsoren, sondern gleichermaßen auch Rechtehalter, Clubs, Vereine und Sportverbände. Dabei ist dieses Thema kein Luxusproblem von Groß-Sponsoren, sondern bedroht Spitzen- und Breitensport gleichermaßen. Denn neben Einnahmen aus dem Ticketverkauf, Mitgliedsbeiträgen und öffentlicher Förderung sind Sponsoringeinnahmen ein wesentlicher Teil, damit Sportvereine und -verbände ihr breit gefächertes Angebot aufrechterhalten können.

Nach einer kurzen Keynote von Dr. Christian Deuringer, Head of Global Brand Management Allianz SE und Mitglied der Sponsorenvereinigung S 20 e. V. über den kürzlich veröffentlichten S 20 Leitfaden, folgt eine Podiumsdiskussion mit Agenturinhaber Hans-Bernd Kamps, Deloitte Vertreter Stefan Ludwig und S 20 e. V. Geschäftsführer Josef Stadtfeld.

Der iSportconnect Directors Club Germany findet am 17. November 2011 ab 17.30 Uhr im Loftstudio München in der Grafinger Straße 6 statt. Eingeladen sind Vertreter von Sponsoren, Clubs, Verbänden, Vereinen, Sportmedien und Rechtehalter. Für die Anmeldung zum iSportconnect Directors Club Germany registrieren Sie sich bitte unter dev.isportconnect.com/directorsclubgermany.