Former Accrington Stanley chairman Ilyas Khan is prepared to join a consortium to take over at relegated Blackburn if current owners Venky’s want to sell.

Venky’s have come under huge pressure from Rovers supporters since taking control of the club in November 2010.

But they say they have no plans to leave Ewood Park despite relegation.

“If they were [prepared to sell], I would be honoured if I could facilitate a transfer,” Khan told BBC Radio Lancashire.

Khan, who stood down as chairman of Accrington and relinquished his shares in the League Two club earlier this month, has held meetings with willing investors and joined forces with local businessmen Ian Battersby and Ian Currie, who run corporate finance and capital-raising company Seneca Partners.

Khan added: “I respect the fact Venky’s are the current owners, but at some point during the close season, I think it will become clearer whether their long-term intentions are to stay where they are,” he said.

“I read the statement they put out last week that the family is in love with the club and want to see it through.

“If that is their intention, there is no time to be spent on this endeavour.

“If they were to decide that it’s time for them to move on to a different business venture, I think our consortium is the only one that could turn this into a success for the town.”

Blackburn have been relegated from the Premier League and face an uncertain future in the Championship

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket have appointmented Ralph Waters as Deputy Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, to be hosted in New Zealand and Australia.

Waters is the Chairman of Fletcher Building Limited, a Director of Woolworths Limited, Fonterra Co-Operative Limited and Westpac New Zealand Limited and until earlier this year, was Chairman of Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited. Previously, Mr Waters was Chief Executive of the Sydney based Email Limited and then Chief Executive of the Auckland based Fletcher Building.

James Strong, who was announced last week as Chairman, and his Deputy Mr Waters, will lead the Board overseeing the delivery of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, including the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer.

The Committee Deputy Chairman’s appointment was made following an extensive executive search process conducted on behalf of New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia.

Commenting on his appointment, Waters said: “As a cricket tragic, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in the organisation of the next World Cup. I played years of low level cricket around Australia and for four years in London too. I have travelled the world to watch the Australian team play. Being involved with cricket – and for the two countries where I now share my time – will be a privilege.”

Manchester United’s poor showings in the Champions League and the FA Cup was saved by the news that they received £3.5 million in increased sponsorship.

United were finalists in the Champions League in 2008, 2009 and 2011 but surprisingly failed to emerge from the group stage in this season’s competition.

In the FA Cup, having seen off Manchester City, they were defeated by Liverpool in the fourth round.In the three-month period leading up to March 31 in 2011 the club had made £75.2m but the latest quarterly results for the same period in 2012 show a drop of £4.4 million. A 9.9% wage increase compared to last year also contributed to the dip.

However, a £3.5m sponsorship increase helped to cushion the blow and United remain on course for an impressive revenue increase over the season as a whole, with revenues over the nine-month period standing at £245.8m as compared to last year’s £231.6m.

“This increase largely relates to growth in player remuneration, driven by new player acquisitions and further contractual negotiations together with increased costs and headcount arising from the continued growth in our sponsorship and commercial operations,” United’s quarterly financial report read.

“Media income has been impacted by our exit from the UCL, thus no Round of 16 match played and our subsequent participation in the UEL [Europa League], for which, despite one extra game, the income per game is lower than for the UCL.

“In addition, we earned lower revenues for the FA Cup in 2011/12 due to our fourth-round exit, compared with reaching the semi-final in 2010/11.”

United’s quarterly results show that revenues dropped in the three months ending March 31 by £4.4million from 2011, £70.8m compared to £75.2m.

Queens Park Rangers have named Philip Beard their new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after Malaysian business tycoon, Tony Fernandes took over the Premiership club.

Beard has been involved in three highly successful international businesses; a founding partner of Air Miles International, a senior member of the successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid team in 2005, and CEO of The O2 where he led a team to re-launch the Millennium Dome as a world-leading entertainment destination. 

Under his leadership The O2 was transformed from white elephant to the world’s number one music arena. 

Since leaving The O2 two years ago, Beard has set up his own consultancy business advising leading sports clubs, sports bodies and associations on commercial and business strategy.

Beard’s move comes after Fernandes secured a 66% stake in QPR, buying out previous majority shareholders Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone.

Fernandes will work alongside the Mittal Family, who have retained their 33% stake.

The 47-year old said: ‘QPR is a raw diamond and hopefully I can contribute into turning it into a diamond’.

‘Everyone knows I’ve followed West Ham all my life but I’ve always had a soft spot for QPR. Rangers were one of the first teams I watched as a child at Loftus Road’.

He will take the role of chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd and will be joined on the board by joint Tune Group owner Mr Kamarudin Bin Meranun, one of Malaysia’s most successful business entrepreneurs.

Glasgow Rangers have lost their appeal to eradicate their 12-month transfer embargo and £160, apoplectic 000 in fines imposed on the Ibrox club by an SFA Judicial Panel for a series of disciplinary rule breaches under Craig Whyte’s ownership.

A three-man Appellate Tribunal, order chaired by Supreme Court judge Lord Carloway, announced their decision just before 11pm last night to uphold the original decision, despite the legal argument put forward on behalf of Rangers by leading QC Richard Keen.On 23 April, Rangers were found guilty of five disciplinary charges brought against them as a result of Lord William Nimmo Smith’s independent inquiry into events at the club since Whyte took control in May last year.

These included bringing the game into disrepute in the period which saw Whyte withhold PAYE and VAT payments due from the club.The SFA subsequently published a lengthy document detailing the reasons for the sanctions in which it was stated only match fixing would have been regarded as a more serious offence.

It also revealed the Judicial Panel had considered terminating Rangers’ membership of the SFA.Lord Carloway, assisted by Spartans chairman Craig Graham and former Partick Thistle chairman Allan Cowan, concluded that the punishment was “proportionate to the breach, dissuasive to other and effective in the context of serious misconduct.

”They added that the decision to prevent Rangers signing any players next season does not affect the club’s ability to extend the existing contracts of players, noting that there are currently over 40 professionals on their books.Rangers, who employed leading advocate Keen with money raised by supporters for the club’s Fighting Fund since they went into administration in February, had contested that Whyte’s actions should be treated separately to those of the club.

But the Appellate Tribunal ruled that the original decision was competent as the “conduct involved was attributable to the club as a member of the SFA”.

The decision is another significant blow for Rangers and new owner Charles Green as they look to emerge from administration through a CVA.

Manchester City’s have secured a record income of £60.6million from Premier League broadcast payments for last season but even bottom club Wolves earned £39million.

The figures highlight the money available to clubs in the richest league in the world – and the fact that compared to many other leagues the split of the cash is not skewed massively towards the top sides. Half the domestic TV cash and all the overseas rights income are split equally between the 20 clubs.

“The Premier League’s income distribution mechanism rewards sporting success in the League while also guaranteeing a significant amount of broadcast revenue to each club in order that they can plan from one season to the next,” Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said.

“It has been a fantastic season, arguably the best of all the 20 Premier League seasons, and the clubs deserve huge credit for the quality of football on show throughout 2011-12.

“We believe the way we distribute broadcast income plays a part in allowing each club to compete at the highest level.”

Each club received an equal share of £13.7m from domestic TV money, £18.7m from overseas broadcast rights, plus £755,000 for each place they finished in the final league table – that was the sum received by bottom Wolves while champions Manchester City earned £15.1m.

On top of that, each club receives around £570,000 for each time they are featured in live TV matches – at least £5.7million but in Manchester United’s case £13.5m after taking part in 26 live TV games.

That explains why Tottenham finished below Arsenal in the league table but earned more – £57.3m compared to £56.2m – because they played in 23 live TV games, compared to the Gunners’ 19.

Korean gold medal skater Yu-na Kim will be given a new job title as the Special Olympics Global PR ambassador.

Kim played a significant role as athlete ambassador in helping PyeongChang secure their Olympic bid to host the winter Games in 2018.

In her new role she will be hoping to inspire athletes with learning disabilities and will join the growing list of elite level athletes that includes swimmer Michael Phelps and figure skater Michelle Kwan, doctor gymnast Nadia Comaneci and retired NBA star Yao Ming.

The Walt Disney Company has confirmed that it is looking at pulling out of its UK-based sport channel ESPN.

The media giant is already on the record as considering exiting a number of international markets as a result of the growing costs of acquiring live sporting rights.

ESPN recently lost rights to the UK Premier League and it is understood that Disney’s plans to pull back only refer to the core ESPN channel, viagra 100mg not its other two offerings in the UK, ESPN Classic and ESPN America.

“We were experiencing losses due to the ramp up and newness of that business for us,” Rasulo said on an analyst call following Disney’s first-quarter results. “And at this point we are exploring and exit from that.”

ESPN UK issued a statement in the wake of Rasulo’s comments: “We have been saying for some time that we are exploring a range of potential options for our business.  We are not going to discuss specifics.”

The news about ESPN in the UK follows Disney selling out of ESPN Star Sports and earlier comments from chairman and chief executive Bob Iger about the future of ESPN outside the US.

In einem Interview mit dem Magazin „Focus“ plant der Präsident des FC Bayern München in deraktuellen Saison 2011/12 mit einem Rekordumsatz. „Die 350-Millionen-Euro-Grenze knacken wir“,sagte Uli Hoeneß im Interview. Der mögliche Sieg in der Champions League könnte weitere Millionenbringen.

Den bisher höchsten Umsatz erzielte der deutsche Fußball-Rekordmeister in der Saison 2009/10 mit350,2 Millionen Euro. Wie hoch der Gewinn in diesem Jahr ausfallen wird, hängt vom Ausgang desChampions-League-Finales gegen Chelsea London am Samstag ab. „Zwischen zehn und 20 MillionenEuro sollten als Konzerngewinn auf jeden Fall übrig bleiben“, so Hoeneß. „Hinzu kommt, dass wir dieAllianz-Arena bis spätestens 2020 abbezahlt haben. Dann sind wir der reichste Verein der Welt. Wirhaben ein Stadion, das fast eine halbe Milliarde Euro wert ist, einen überaus wertvollen Spielerkaderund ein prall gefülltes Festgeldkonto.“

Kritik übte Hoeneß an den hohen Eintrittspreisen für das Champions-League-Finale. „Was michstört, sind die Eintrittspreise, die der europäische Fußball-Verband aufruft: 370 Euro für einenormale Karte, 3500 Euro für eine mit Bewirtung. Da werden wir mit der UEFA noch mal redenmüssen, schließlich ist Fußball Volkssport.“ Beim FC Bayern habe die teuerste Karte im Champions-League-Halbfinale 120 Euro gekostet, bei Real Madrid 360 Euro. Dies könne er nicht nachvollziehen,insbesondere in einem „Land, das kurz vor der Pleite steht und in dem jeder zweite Jugendlichearbeitslos ist!“, so Hoeneß. „Ich will, dass auch der kleine Mann zu einem Spitzenereignis hingehenkann und nicht nur die Schickimicki-Gesellschaft.“

Zudem sprach Hoeneß im FOCUS-Interview über die neuen Strukturen der FC Bayern MünchenAG. Bei vielen mittelständischen Unternehmen misslinge die Nachfolgeregelung. „Beim FC Bayernwird das nicht passieren.“ Dafür hätten Vorstandschef Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Finanzvorstand KarlHopfner und er gesorgt. „Spätestens in drei bis fünf Jahren treten wir ab und machen dann einerneuen Generation Platz“, so Hoeneß. Auf die Frage, warum der Vertrag von Sportdirektor ChristianNerlinger nur bis 2014 verlängert wurde, antwortete er: „Weil zwei Jahre genug sind, um sich zubeweisen. Christian – und auch Marketing-Vorstand Andreas Jung – müssen bis dahin zeigen, dass siein der Lage sind, den Verein eines Tages auch ohne uns zu führen.“

In der kommenden Saison wird laut Hoeneß mit Trainer Jupp Heynckes, der bis 2013 an die Bayerngebunden ist, über eine Verlängerung des Vertrages gesprochen. Sollte Heynckes aufhören wollen,werde er sicherlich bei der Nachfolger-Suche helfen. Auf die Frage, ob José Mourinho von RealMadrid vorstellbar sei, antwortete Hoeneß: „Ich glaube, er müsste schon Deutsch können. Wenn dieSprachbarriere nicht wäre, würde ich sagen, dass Pep Guardiola (FC Barcelona) sicherlich einer füruns wäre.“