England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke has been re-elected to his post following the completion of the election process conducted by Electoral Reform Services, prostate the ECB have announced.

The 41 members of the ECB, treatment which comprise of the 18 first-class counties, 21 county boards, the MCC and the Minor Counties Cricket Association, returned Clarke as chairman for a third term until the Annual General Meeting in 2015.

Clarke said: “I am honoured to be re-elected as chairman of the ECB until 2015, and would like to thank the members for their continued confidence and support.

“We have a magnificent complement of players, fans, volunteers and staff representing our sport, from the grassroots structures to the top of the professional game. Their continued dedication and commitment to the sport is irreplaceable, and deeply appreciated by all those who love the game.

“I look forward to working with all of my colleagues throughout English cricket to ensure that the great successes of the last few years will continue both on and off the field.”

by Ismail Uddin

The Scottish Premier League (SPL) has paid half of the money owed to member clubs, ed on top of a payment to the Scottish Football League (SFL).

The league has paid 50% of the sponsorship and broadcasting revenues, which was due at the start of August.

£500,000 has also been paid to the SFL, which is the first instalment of £2 million that is due to the league.

The delay in payment has been put down to the uncertainty of Rangers, which dominated Scottish football over the summer.

The Glasgow side was liquidated and reformed as the Rangers FC, but were demoted to the bottom tier of Scottish football.

Due to Rangers beginning life in Division Three, the SPL had to negotiate new deals with broadcasters Sky and ESPN, with no Old Firm derby against Celtic proving costly.

Simon Mason, capsule President of the England Hockey Board (EHB), pills has announced that Philip Kimberley has been reappointed as the Non-Executive Chairman of EHB for a further three years.

The re-appointment was made by the Non-Executive Directors of the EHB, ampoule and the process chaired by the President of EHB, Simon Mason, who said: ”The responsibility of appointing the Chair of EHB is a significant one and the Non-Executive Directors were unanimous that Philip was the right person to lead the EHB during such an exciting and important time for the sport. 

“As Executive Chairman from 2003 to 2008, Philip ran things on a day-to-day basis and was responsible for the rebuilding of the governing body’s affairs after its financial problems in 2002. He then became Non-Executive Chairman in early 2009 when Sally Munday was appointed Chief Executive and the two of them have worked very closely since then to continue the development of the sport.”

The England Hockey Board is the governing body for the sport in England and also has the responsibility of being the Nominated Country for Great Britain Hockey, to qualify and deliver the Great Britain sides for Olympic success.

Philip Kimberley said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as both an Executive and now Non-Executive Chairman leading a great team.  I have watched with great pleasure as the plans we laid many years ago are now coming to fruition.”

Philip is also England’s representative on the Great Britain Hockey Board and Richard Leman, Great Britain Hockey’s President said: “The re-appointment of Philip will give everyone inside and out of hockey the confidence that the excellent  progress made by the administration and performance teams will continue well into the Rio cycle under his guidance.  His leadership and direction have been significant in the continued growth of our sport.”

Philip is also a Non-Executive Director of both UK Sport and sportscoachUK, and a shareholder and Chair of each of Nemisys and ipadio, digital media companies.

by Ismail Uddin

Vauxhall Motors will create a piece of footballing history when they bring together the four Home Nations managers to preview the 2014 World Cup in Brazil on Friday morning.

England Manager Roy Hodgson, Michael O’Neill (Northern Ireland), Craig Levein (Scotland) and Chris Coleman (Wales) will join forces for a special ‘Road To Brazil’ event in London hosted by Vauxhall, who is the lead sponsor of all four Home Nations.

The event will take place at the Honourable Artillery Company HQ at Armoury House and the four managers will take part in a panel discussion about the 2014 World Cup and answer questions from the assembled media.

Duncan Aldred, Chairman and Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors, said: “The Road to Brazil event is a historic moment in our sponsorship of Home Nations football.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first organisation to be the lead partner of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at the same time.

“This is a truly momentous occasion and offers a unique opportunity for the four managers to meet and give an insight and preview ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

“We are extremely grateful to all four of the governing bodies for helping to make such a special event possible.”

The World Cup qualification campaign kicks-off next month with England in Group H alongside Moldova, Ukraine, San Marino, Poland and Montenegro.

Wales and Scotland are paired together in Group A and will face Belgium, Serbia, Macedonia and Croatia whilst Northern Ireland find themselves in Group F against Russia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Azerbaijan and Israel.

The event will be broadcast live on the FA’s official website at 11am, Friday 24 August

World Match Racing Tour CEO, pills  Jim O’Toole has left his post after not agreeing a new deal and will leave with immediate effect.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Alpari World Match Racing Tour said: “The Alpari World Match Racing Tour today announces that Chief Executive Officer Jim O’Toole will not be renewing his fixed term contract with the Tour and after discussions with the Board of Directors it has been agreed that he will part company with the Tour with immediate effect.”

Jim O’Toole said: “With the recent announcement of Alpari as the Tour title sponsor and the conclusion of an agreement with the new venue in Chicago, the Alpari World Match Racing Tour is in an enviable commercial position in the world of sailing and I would like to wish the series and all its stakeholders every success moving forward.”

O’Toole will explore other senior management roles within the sports marketing industry.

by Ismail Uddin

A national football academy will be built in Vadodara, India with the aim of providing a much-needed boost to sport in India

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial and marketing partner IMG-Reliance  this week presented ambitious plans for football development in India with the objective of its national team participating in the 2026 World Cup.

Vadodara already has several football grounds, and IMG-Reliance chose the location because it believes it would be easy to build an academy.

The AIFF and IMG-Reliance are also working toward refurbishing the existing stadiums.

The academy’s goal is to produce 80 percent of national team players within the next 10 years.

IMG-Reliance will also provide scholarships to 16 football players that will include full-time training and academic education at IMG Academy in Florida.{jcomments on}

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has further strengthened its commercial and marketing operations with the appointment of experienced sports administrator James Mercer as Commercial Director.

Mercer, pharmacy 43, joins Rugby League’s governing body with a strong pedigree in sports sponsorship and commerce having worked in both professional tennis and motorsport since 1995.

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood, said: “I would like to welcome James to the RFL and look forward to working with him at what is a very exciting time for Rugby League.

“James has a proven track record of commercial delivery and his rich experience has an important role to play as we look to achieve our objectives of growing the sport at every level.

“James will be able to offer a total package to sponsors and commercial partners, from grassroots through to Super League, England and the Rugby League World Cup.”

A former pupil of Bristol Grammar School, Mercer graduated from Illinois State University before completing his Masters in Sport Business at the University of Richmond in Virginia, USA.

His career includes a six-year tenure as Commercial Manager for the International Tennis Federation (2000-2006) and a Director (commercial, media, television and sponsorship) at North One Sport, the Championship Promoter for the FIA World Rally Championship (2006-2012).

James Mercer said: “I have watched Rugby League make terrific progress over the last few years and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to help take the sport to the next level.

“My experience with the ITF and North One Sport has equipped me to deliver a whole-sport solution to the market and maximise sponsorship and revenue streams in a sport I have admired for some considerable time.

“I have first hand experience of building successful platforms by weaving together the elements of television, new media, licensing and sponsorship to achieve commercial objectives.

“With so much positive news, this is a great time to join the RFL and I am very much looking forward to working with all our brands to understand how to maximise all the opportunities that exist for growth.”

His recruitment comes just a few days after the RFL confirmed the appointment of Matt Lowery, the former Manchester City Head of Marketing, as Director of Marketing on a consultancy basis.

Nigel Wood added: “These appointments make the sport better equipped than ever before to realise its rich commercial potential and raise visibility and profile to new heights.

“Matt and James enhance an experienced and committed team at the RFL which is well placed to build on the sustained growth we have overseen in the last few years.”

James Mercer will be based in London and will begin his tenure today (Monday March 12).

by Ismail Uddin

With four weeks to go until the single biggest rugby focused conference and exhibition comes to Twickenham, store Rugby Ventures, the management team behind the event, is delighted to announce the final conference programme content for day one of Rugby Expo.

Building on the new conference format for 2011, day one of Rugby Expo will be focused on the professional game. With a top list of high profile international speakers from rugby as well as the wider world of sport, the programme will include four plenary sessions and 11 workshops, open to attend by all delegates.

Amongst the list of expert industry speakers confirmed, the main stage will play host to Paul Vaughan, CEO of RWC 2015, John O’Neill, CEO of Australian Rugby Union, Mike Miller, CEO of the IRB and fresh from the RWC in New Zealand alongside Steve Fanelli from the Oakland Athletics, Elaine Clarke of Chelsea FC and Alistair Kirkwood, UK managing director for the NFL.

Other speakers taking part on day one include:

– Nick Chesworth, head of rugby at IMG

– Dan Lyle, tournament director for USA Sevens

– Derek Palmer, managing director EMEA for Tickets.com

– Paul Kimberley, commercial director for RFL

– David Hutchinson, commercial director for Warrington Wolves

– Steven Jones, awarding winner journalist from The Sunday Times

– Vicky Howarth, head of retail for Tottenham Hotspur

– Steve Griffiths, head of technical services for the IRB

Alongside the four main plenary sessions, day one will host 11 interactive workshops, designed to provide delegates with a much broader range of content covering issues that affect professional rugby. These workshops will focus on three specialist areas from within a typical professional rugby club including; management and finance, marketing and commercial, and technical and performance. All designed to ensure a full programme and a significant amount of content on offer for all attendees.

For full details of the conference programme, please click here.

Chinese sportswear retailer Li Ning has warned it may post a full-year loss because of inventory overhang and slowing domestic economic growth.

The company’s shares fell 3.8 percent in Hong Kong on Thursday, compounding a 4.5 percent fall on Wednesday.

Investors appear to be losing patience faith in the company’s assurances it can revive its fortunes after a difficult two years.

Li Ning reported an 85 percent drop in first-half net profit to RMB 44.3M (US$7M)

One reason for the projected full-year loss is that spending on London 2012 will be booked primarily in the second half.

Shanghai-based China Market Research Founder, Shaun Rein, said: “Li Ning’s poor performance has more to do with its own strategic missteps rather than an overall slowdown of the Chinese market.” {jcomments on}

The San Francisco 49ers continued their foray in acquiring Facebook personnel by appointing Kunal Malik, a tech veteran who started Facebook Inc.’s  IT department, their new chief technology officer, a newly created position.

Malik will oversee tech efforts for the club and the planned stadium in Santa Clara. He is expected to start on May 1.

Gideon Yu, the 49ers’ newly appointed president and a former chief financial officer at Facebook — said the team set “very high goals for what we want the Santa Clara stadium to be in terms of innovation, technology and user experience.”

“In my opinion, there is nobody better qualified for this role, and I am excited to partner with Kunal again,” Yu said in a prepared statement.

Malik founded Facebook’s information technology department in 2007 and spent the past five years building that group. According to the 49ers, he has more than 15 years of tech experience in “senior leadership roles.”

He has worked for the Buffalo, N.Y., police department, using technology to improve officers’ response times. He has also worked for Exodus Communications Inc. , a Santa Clara Web-hosting firm that collapsed a decade ago during the dot-com meltdown and was sold through bankruptcy court, and Wind River Systems Inc. , a software company acquired in 2009 by Santa Clara semiconductor giant Intel Corp.

The 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara is expected to cost $1.02 billion and open in time for the 2014 National Football League season. The 68,500-seat facility would be built on Tasman Drive, near California’s Great America theme park and the 49ers’ training facility.

by Ismail Uddin