Portsmouth are tantalising close to liquidation after administrator Trevor Birch warned the club may cease to exist in the next fortnight.

The League One club is trying to negotiate with eight senior players, but their refusal to compromise over wage demands has left Pompey at the brink of extinction. 

Nwankwo Kanu has also lodged a claim for £3m ($4.65m) in back pay and Birch says it is the players who have the future of the team in their hands.

“The club is heading for liquidation in just a few weeks, perhaps two weeks if these players don’t leave or compromise on their wages,” Birch said.

“We still have players like Ben Haim, Dave Kitson and Kanu on our books.

“Kanu has served the club notice that he wants to leave but before doing so he wants the money he says is owed to him by the club. These players hold the survival of the club in their hands.

“I must stress it is not their fault as the players didn’t get the club into this trouble, but they do now have the ability to get the club out of this mess.

“The problem with everybody is that this club has cried wolf so often that no one believes it will happen, no one believes they will go out of business, but they will in two or three weeks. It is that serious now. The trouble is ‘Portsmouth fatigue’, but the truth is that the club is now fighting for its life.”

Mike Davis, prescription Executive Director of the United States Golf Association (USGA) has been named Chairman of the World Golf Foundation’s Board of Directors for 2012. 

Davis succeeds The European Tour’s Chief Executive, link George O’Grady, who served as the 2011 Board Chairman.

Davis, who was named USGA Executive Director in March, 2011, has been with the Association for over 21 years.  He joined the organization in April 1990 where he served in various capacities in Rules & Competitions, including as U.S. Open Championship Director and later as Senior Director of Rules & Competitions, until being named Executive Director.

“I am both delighted and honored to assume the Chairman’s role for 2012,” said Davis. “The game of golf continues to be presented with challenges and opportunities around the world. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Foundation’s Board and the organization’s talented staff to ensure that the Foundation continues to play a leadership role in fostering the health, growth and development of the game.”

Steve Mona, Chief Executive Officer of the World Golf Foundation, added: “Mike, with decades of experience organizing and managing national championships, will bring a rich perspective as Chair of our Board. His extensive knowledge and leadership in the golf industry will benefit our mission of supporting the growth of the game worldwide.” 

In addition to Davis and O’Grady, the other World Golf Foundation Executive Committee members are Jim Armstrong, Executive Director of The Masters Tournament; Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A; Tim Finchem, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR; Joe Steranka, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of America; and Michael Whan, Commissioner of the LPGA.

Denver Broncos has retained 9NEWS as the team’s official television partner in a new multi-year deal.

“We are thrilled to extend our broadcast partnership with 9NEWS,” Broncos Senior Vice President of Business Development Mac Freeman said. “In addition to airing preseason Broncos telecasts and providing exclusive programming for our fans, 9NEWS will continue to serve as an important partner for several initiatives in the Colorado community.”

KUSA-TV will air three of the club’s preseason games at San Francisco in Week 1, at Seattle in Week 2 and home vs. Arizona in Week 4.

In addition, the station will continue to produce unique local programming such as Broncos Huddle, Broncos Tonight and Broncos Game Day Live.

“Denver Broncos football is very important to our community and it is truly our pleasure to partner with this legendary organization,” said 9NEWS President and General Manager Mark Cornetta. “If last season is any indication, we look forward to delivering many, many exciting moments into the homes of our viewers.”

Along with the three preseason contests, KUSA-TV is scheduled to air three regular-season Broncos games as national broadcasts: Denver’s NFL Kickoff Game against Baltimore in Week 1, and a pair of Sunday Night Football matchups — at Indianapolis in Week 7 and at New England in Week 12.

Glasgow Rangers have conceded defeat, accepting a 12-month transfer embargo as a condition of gaining membership of the Scottish Football Association (SFA).

The embargo will begin after this summer’s transfer window.

The decision, which was confirmed by the SFA, will allow Rangers boss Ally McCoist to bolster his squad ahead of the new Third Division campaign.

Charles Green’s newco club were sent down to the bottom tier by Scottish Football League clubs last week, failing in their bid to get into the Scottish Premier League.

The registration embargo and a £160,000 fine were handed down to Rangers for a range of offences, mainly the club’s failure to pay tax under former owner Craig Whyte, who was banned for life by the SFA after he was ruled unfit to hold an official role in the game.

Rangers successfully challenged the transfer ban in the Court of Session before Green’s Sevco bought their assets when they were consigned to liquidation.

Lord Glennie ruled the sanction was not open to the SFA, who referred the matter back to the appellate tribunal that upheld the original sentence.

Former International Rugby Board vice chairman Bill Beaumont is on the verge of taking on the role of Rugby Football Union chairman, according to reports.

Beaumont went up against Bernard Lapasset for the IRB chairman post but lost out in the ballot back in December and South African Oregon Hoskins has since taken on the role of vice chairman at the governing body. Beaumont is yet to declare his interest in the position, but according to reports in the Daily Telegraph, he is the hot favourite to land the chairmanship.

The RFU have recently appointed former All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet club chief Ian Ritchie as their new CEO and with Beaumont’s rugby experience, the pair could be an ideal match.

Other candidates for the post include the two independent non-executive directors at the RFU, Andrew Higginson or Miles Templeman with Ian Metcalfe, the chair of the professional game board, another popular option.

But former England captain Beaumont is expected to take the role unopposed if and when he declares his interest in the position.

Related discussions: Is Bill Beaumont the right man to lead the RFU?

London 2012 – The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games, see to give it its full and rather grand title, recipe will feature 30 separate events to compete in along with online leaderboards and is developed by SEGA Studios Australia.

The game is to be released across the PlayStation3 and XBox 360 platforms and will be available next year.

Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA of America, stated: “The London 2012 Olympic Games is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience for many people. The official video game will give people all over the world the chance to participate in the greatest sporting event on earth from their homes, even if they are thousands of miles away!”

Sportsnet 960 The FAN today announced it has reached a seven-year exclusive broadcast rights extension with both the NHL’s Calgary Flames and Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen beginning next season.

The deal reinforces Sportsnet’s commitment to keeping fans connected to their home team first with more Flames games on radio and TV than any other broadcaster. 

The new agreement, which begins at the start of the 2013-14 NHL season and runs through the 2019-20 season, includes all Calgary Flames 82-regular season games each year as well as all pre-season and playoff games. Sportsnet 960 The FAN will continue to air a one-hour pre- and post-game show every game. 

Currently, Sportsnet 960 The FAN airs all Calgary Flames pre-season, regular season and playoff games. For the 2012-13 season, Sportsnet West will telecast a total of 34 regular season Calgary Flames games, more than any Canadian broadcaster. Sportsnet 960 The FAN has been broadcasting Flames games since 2002, while Sportsnet TV has been delivering coverage of Flames games since the network’s inception in 1998. 

“The passion that sports fans have for the Flames in Calgary is second to none,” said Kelly Kirch, Program Director, Sportsnet 960 The FAN. “We are proud to continue this important partnership with the Calgary Flames, and to be the voice that hockey fans trust. This deal demonstrates our unwavering commitment to delivering coverage of every goal and every update for every Calgary Flames game for years to come.” 

“Sportsnet 960 The FAN has been an outstanding radio partner for the Calgary Flames,” said Flames President & CEO Ken King. “We are thrilled with our new agreement and look forward to their high quality broadcasts, insightful coverage and powerful reach.” 

The new package also includes the broadcast rights for all regular season and playoff Calgary Hitmen games each season, which will be delivered on radio or online at www.sportsnet.ca/960, and will provide fans with extensive coverage of their favourite Western Hockey League team over the next seven years.

The Scottish Football League (SFL) are looking to sell the tv rights for 25 Division 3 games, involving Rangers.

The SFL’s media representative IMG, has approached broadcasters with a package to show up to 25 live Rangers matches in Division Three next season. The proposed deal includes the opportunity to broadcast all 18 of Rangers’ away league matches. 

However, any deal cannot be finalised until the Scottish FA grants membership to the new club. Rangers went into Administration in February, and in the process of Liquidation at the moment. Charles Green’s Consortium are setting up a new company (Newco) after the HMRC failed to grant a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

The SFA want Rangers word they can clear all footballing debts, plus take the punishment from their old company to have a twelve month transfer embargo.

The proposed SFL TV deal subject to certain criteria, including fixture and scheduling clashes as well as policing. The new league season less than three weeks away so all parties want something settled fairly quickly.

Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Games bid has taken on new momentum after three senior staff members of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) were appointed to serve as senior department directors given their experience with the Olympic Movement.

Yasuhiro Nakamori, JOC International Relations Director and Tokyo 2020 Executive Board Member was appointed Senior Director of Tokyo 2020 International Relations Department.

Toru Watanabe, JOC President’s Office Chief Manager will serve as Senior Director of Tokyo 2020 Marketing & Promotion Department.

Masa Takaya, JOC Communications Manager and former International Triathlon Union Media Manager, who also served as communications director of Tokyo 2016 will hold the position of Acting Communications Director also for Tokyo 2020.

Masato Mizuno, Tokyo 2020 CEO and JOC Vice President, said, “After studying the key factors in several previous successful bids, we have noted the importance of the involvement of NOCs in realizing a truly integrated bid team.

“NOC staff have a wealth of experience in dealing with the International Olympic Committee and various other international sporting bodies, and are able to make a valuable contribution to the overall bid.

“I am certainly glad that Tokyo 2020 is now able to draw on the expertise and experience of senior JOC members and position these at the heart of our bid,” he added.

This follows Japan’s House of Represenatives approving the bid last month.