Burnley Football Club have announced that Paul Fletcher is to depart from his role as chief executive of the club.

Mr Fletcher, who has held the position at Turf Moor for four years, has agreed to stay until the end of the season in a commercial capacity and continue his involvement with Burnley Football Club’s UCFB College of Football Business and other new initiatives

A club statement said: “Burnley Football Club can confirm that Mr Paul Fletcher is to stand down from the role of chief executive.

“Mr Fletcher, who has held the position at Turf Moor for four years, has agreed to stay until the end of the season in a commerical capacity and continue his involvement with Burnley Football Club’s UFCB College of Football Business and other new initiatives.

“Burnley Football Club has begun the task of identifying a new chief executive immediately, with a view to an appointment as soon as possible.

“Burnley Football Club will make no further comment at this time.”

unhealthy helvetica, sans-serif;”>DATE: 5^th April 2011

TIME: 11.00am – 3.00pm (including a stadium tour)

VENUE: Leicestershire County Cricket Club

County Ground

Grace Road

Leicester, LE2 8AD

Notice is herby given of 2011 Annual General Meeting of The Venue Managers Association (formerly UK Stadium Managers Association).

The Managing Secretary, Neil Levett, will firstly introduce the aims, objectives and reasons for the name changes to the assembled audience of members. There will then be a presentation by DC Jim Maietta, from the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure who will speak on threats and protective security including some UK and international examples and what Venue Managers can do to mitigate risk.

At least one other guest speaker will present a paper and this will be followed by a tour of Leicestershire County Cricket Club for Venue Managers to see, first hand, another colleague’s venue and to discuss the issues they commonly face.

Editors are reminded that membership of UKVMA is open, exclusively, to Managers/Directors of multipurpose venues such as Stadia, Arenas, Athletics Tracks, Racecourses, Dog Tracks, Motor Racing Circuits, Auditoria, Theatres and Exhibition Centre’s and that it is the person who is the member and not the venue.

For further details on UKVMA please contact the Membership Secretary, Sandy Lopes, on

01732 459683, by email sandy@aladltd.co.uk or visit the UKVMA website www.ukvma.org

Craig Whyte’s takeover of Rangers last May is to be investigated by the Crown Office.

Mr Whyte purchased an 85% stake in the club from Sir David Murray for just £1, but now the Crown Office has confirmed its investigation into “alleged criminality”.

The statement, released on Monday, confirms that the decision to open proceedings follows an inspection of financial files, which they received from administrators Duff and Phelps.

The Crown Office statement read: “The investigation into alleged criminality follows a preliminary police examination of information passed to them in February this year by the club administrators.

“The Procurator Fiscal for the West of Scotland will now work with Strathclyde Police to fully investigate the acquisition and financial management of Rangers Football Club and any related reports of alleged criminality during that process.”

Haroon Lorgat has indicated he will step down as International Cricket Council chief executive when his term of office expires in June 2012.

The South African, cialis who took on the role in 2008 and agreed a 12-month extension to his three-year deal last year, will make way after deciding against another renewal.

“My sense is to step aside after having delivered a successful ICC Cricket World Cup and the new global ICC strategy which is now in place,” said Lorgat.

“In 2010, I felt there was much work for me to complete during 2011 which included protecting the integrity of the game and restoring the reputation and image of the ICC. Having dealt decisively with the spot-fixing issues, delivered a highly successful ICC Cricket World Cup and adopted a new global strategy, I feel the time is right to move on.

“I am hopeful that the independent governance review currently in progress and due to be published after the next board meeting would find acceptable outcomes and thereby leave a legacy for future generations.

“Although disappointed that the Test World Championship will not be played in 2013, I am confident that with the strategic restructures we have undertaken, all three formats can be sustained at international level.

“Overall I feel personally satisfied with having successfully led the ICC through some difficult issues. I am especially grateful to have worked with our exceptional broadcast and commercial partners and the fantastic people who work at the ICC. I wish to thank each and every one of my staff for supporting me so loyally and ably. Their contributions are enormous in the face of many difficult challenges.”

Radar Sponsorship and Hill & Knowlton’s Sports Marketing & Sponsorship division (H&K Sports) have won a competitive pitch to work with MoneyGram International on its high profile sponsorship of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The tournament begins this Saturday (19^th February) with the Final taking place on the 2^nd April, abortion 2011.

Radar and H&K Sports were appointed to provide strategic consultancy and in-tournament activation.

“Cricket is among the largest sports attractions in countries that rely on remittances, including Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. It is a huge part of the lives of millions of our customers”, said Juan Agualimpia, MoneyGram’s Chief Marketing Officer.

“For MoneyGram, the sponsorship of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is a great opportunity for us to connect with our customers around the world as well as strengthen relationships with our 227,000 local agents, who are present in over 190 different countries and territories.”

“In our opinion, the partnership between Radar Sponsorship and Hill & Knowlton provided us with the perfect blend of cricket experience and international capability that we were looking for.”

The project is being led by Radar Sponsorship’s Managing Partner Jamie Dean, who commented:

“We are extremely excited to be working on behalf of MoneyGram and this adds to our growing portfolio in the world of cricket.

“MoneyGram’s ambition is to quickly become a credible sponsor of cricket, so the winning team had to impress with solid cricket credentials, an understanding of their business and the ability to call on an international footprint.”

MoneyGram International has signed a five-year agreement (2011-2015) with the ICC and is the ‘Official Money Transfer’ partner of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

TAJ TV has obtained the broadcasting rights in the Indian subcontinent for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The deal means that live footage from the event will be screened to millions of viewers in the region by the Dubai based broadcaster, anesthetist whose channels include Ten Sports, cure Ten Cricket, abortion Ten Action, Ten HD and Ten Golf.

It will also see TAJ commit to promoting the event across all of its network channels in addition to extensive live coverage on Ten Sports in addition to internet, mobile and radio rights.

Glasgow 2014’s chief executive David Grevemberg said: “The arrangement we have reached with TAJ Television to become one of our Broadcast Rights Holders is a strong indicator of the success of our commercial programme in this sector. Through TAJ’s efforts, we look forward to sharing Scotland’s biggest sporting spectacle with audiences across the continent.”

The A-League’s newest franchise, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, will play several matches at Sydney’s Parramatta Stadium.

The club, which will compete in the A League for the first time in in 2012-13, also launched their striped black, white and red Nike playing strip.

Wanderers executive chairman, Lyall Gorman, hailed the launch as as a landmark day for the club and said the team colours and logo had been chosen based on feedback from fan forums and online surveys.

Gorman said the club would play some of its game at Parramatta Stadium, with stadium negotiations still ongoing.

Campbelltown Stadium and Penrith’s Centrebet Stadium are reportedly other potential venues.

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The League Managers Association (LMA) have welcomed a new member with Birmingham City manager Chris Hughton joining the LMA Management Committee.

Speaking of his appointment Chris Hughton, illness manager of Birmingham City said, ampoule “I am personally delighted and honoured to join the Management Committee of the LMA. I consider the LMA to be a very progressive organisation and one of the game’s most important stakeholders.  I am really looking forward to making a positive contribution”.

Chairman of the LMA, herbal Howard Wilkinson said, “We are thrilled that Chris has accepted our invitation. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our association, at both a coaching and managerial level.

“In welcoming Chris, we must also pay tribute to two stalwarts of the LMA Management Committee, Frank Clark and Lawrie Sanchez, both of whom recently stepped down. Their enormous contribution to our efforts, made over a period of many years, was extremely valuable to the evolution of our association”.

Richard Bevan, Chief Executive of the LMA said, “After spending many years in establishing a very impressive reputation and track-record as a coach at Tottenham Hotspur, Chris has excelled in his transition into management with both Newcastle United and his current club, Birmingham City.

“Chris is a fantastic ambassador for football, as well as an ideal role model for all aspiring managers and coaches. With the move to St. George’s Park next year, the LMA is looking forward to an exciting new period of development and we look forward to Chris’s contribution”.

The International Triathlon Union’s (ITU) premier series, the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series, today welcomed Rock-It Cargo as a new sponsor.

Rock-It Cargo is renowned in its extensive freight services particularly in concert and event touring, serving for U2, PINK, The Police, Boeing, APR Energy, Cirque Du Soleil and the PGA Tour. Rock-It Cargo is the sixth Series partner, titled as Official Transport Logistic Services of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series.

Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member, said: “It is our great pleasure to have partnerships with such a professional logistic partner. Rock-It Cargo has a great reputation in the concert touring industry and we are delighted to tie in with them on the Series events worldwide.”

Andreas Mattick, Managing Director of Rock-it Cargo Germany GmbH, said: “Similar to the needs of a triathlon athlete, a sport logistics provider also requires persistence, focus, a good strategy and a strong will to achieve their targets. That’s why we’re extremely pleased to support the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series.”

Paul Coleman, Managing Director of ITU World Championship Series, said: “We are extremely delighted that Rock-It Cargo finds the partnership as enhancing its brand image. ITU is keen to establish win-win partnerships with global brands, and the new partnership with Rock-It Cargo is an excellent showcase demonstrating the Series as a major sport platform.”

Entering its third year, the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series is the premier triathlon series in the world and the most competitive. Athletes compete in seven Series events vying for the title of ITU Triathlon World Champion. In 2011, the Series will be staged in seven world-class sites. Starting off in Sydney in April and touching down in Yokohama, Madrid, Kitzbühel, Hamburg, London and finishing in Beijing for the Grand Final in September.

The deal is brokered by Upsolut Event GmbH, ITU’s Organisation and Marketing Partner. Existing partners and sponsors of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series are: Dextro Energy, Suunto, Skins, Specialized and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.