Former NFL Quarterback Jeff Garcia, discount Premier League Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, arthritis and National Geographic Channel’s “Shark Men” star Captain Brett McBride have become business partners and corporate advisors to Cleatskins, makers of innovative and stylish sports shoe accessories that preserve athletic performance.

The addition of Garcia, Schwarzer, and McBride to the company’s leadership team is part of an aggressive growth strategy for 2012 aimed at driving direct and retail sales.

Rick Kay, executive vice president of Cleatskins, said: “Garcia, Schwarzer, and McBride bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, which we are very eager to tap into as we take Cleatskins to the next level. These partners, as both athletes and businessmen, will play pivotal roles in elevating the Cleatskins brand among parents, sports enthusiasts, and athletes of all levels.”

Garcia, a San Diego resident, was a four-time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback selection, who played 17 professional seasons, and is one of only eight quarterbacks in NFL history to have achieved two consecutive 30 touchdown pass seasons. He is currently actively involved in civic and charitable causes across San Diego County and nationally. Garcia will help bolster the Cleatskins business via team partnerships at the middle, high school, and college levels, in addition to sports-related grassroots relationships and events.

“Athletes understand the importance of being smart and efficient both on and off the field,” Garcia said. “When I was introduced to Cleatskins – a product specifically designed to preserve performance, enhance efficiency, and provide mobility off the field – I immediately knew it was something I wanted to be part of. I’m excited to give parents, coaches, and athletes a new tool for optimum performance.”

Schwarzer, who also represents Australia at the international level, was selected for both the 2006 and 2010 Australian soccer teams for the FIFA World Cup. He currently plays for Fulham Football Club in London, where he was named Player of the Year in 2008-2009. He was recently named the Australian Footballer of the Year for the second consecutive year, and Premier League Player of the Month earlier this year.

“When I first heard about Cleatskins, I had one of those ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ moments,” Schwarzer said. “Cleatskins will be a household name one day by offering the kind of performance protection appreciated by not only professional athletes but athletes of all levels.”

McBride, a San Diego native and waterman with 20 years of experience, is best known for his starring roles on Outdoor Channel’s “Offshore Adventures” and National Geographic Channel’s “Shark Men.” McBride will spearhead boosting awareness of Boatskins^TM among the boating and yachting communities as an accessory that provides much needed traction while preventing damage to deck floors.

“Cleatskins are a natural choice for boaters and yachters who want the performance of athletic shoes while answering the challenges of deck surfaces. I work hard on the boat, so I need traction, durability, and comfort,” McBride said. “The fact I can slide Cleatskins over my favorite athletic shoes and get all that, while also avoiding oil and blood stains or making marks on the decks, is awesome. I’m stoked to join forces with a company I can truly stand behind and that brings value to my peers out on the water.”

Constructed of Skintek rubber, a revolutionary formulation of compression molded rubber, Cleatskins fit over cleats, snugly cupping the shoe from the bottom. They provide traction while significantly extending the life of cleats by protecting studs from wear and tear. Cleatskins are also machine washable, making them easy-to-care for and looking like new.

In addition, the unique rubber shell is slip-resistant and improves mobility and safety on asphalt and concrete surfaces, while creating a sealed barrier to keep dirt and grass out of home, car, and boat. Cleatskins are available in a variety of colors versatile enough to complement any shoe, outfit, or team uniform.

The Premier League has announced that Benfica TV has been awarded exclusive audio visual broadcast rights for all Barclays Premier League matches per season for from 2013/14 – 2015/16 in Portugal.

Richard Scudamore, drugs Premier League Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely pleased Benfica TV has chosen to invest in our broadcast rights.

“We look forward to working with them and are confident they will broadcast the Barclays Premier League in a comprehensive and innovative manner to our fans in Portugal.”

Luís Filipe Vieira, President of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, said: “Innovation is a permanent value of Benfica and the fact that we can offer, during the next three years, the Barclays Premier League matches to all Portuguese, and not only to Benfica fans, is something that fills me with pride and points the way we want for Benfica TV.”

Glasgow Rangers are on their way to being liquidated and being formed as a new company following Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs decision to vote against a Company Voluntary Arrangement put forward by the prospective new owners.

Buyer Charles Green has been informed that HMRC, the most significant of the club’s creditors, owed more than £21 million, will not accept a CVA, which would see a small percentage of the money repaid as a compromise arrangement.

As a result of HMRC’s decision, Green, who leads the Sevco consortium hoping to buy the club, will press ahead with his plans to purchase the club’s assets and form a new company.

Green said in a statement: “I am hugely disappointed by the decision of HMRC not to support the CVA proposal and that disappointment will be felt acutely by Rangers fans across the world.”

HMRC has said that it will pursue individuals for the money owed in the belief that it stands a greater chance of receiving the funds it is due.

A statement from the tax authority read: “A liquidation provides the best opportunity to protect taxpayers, by allowing the potential investigation and pursuit of possible claims against those responsible for the company’s financial affairs in recent years.

“A CVA would restrict the scope of such action. Moreover, the liquidation route does not prejudice the proposed sale of the club. This sale can take place either through a CVA or a liquidation, so the sale is not being undermined, it simply takes a different route.

“Liquidation will enable a sale of the football assets to be made to a new company, thereby ensuring that football will continue at Ibrox. It also means that the new company will be free from claims or litigation in a way which would not be achievable with a CVA.

“Rangers can make a fresh start.”

Rangers’ administrators, Duff and Phelps, said in a statement that a “binding” sale and purchase agreement with Green would now come into effect.

Joint administrator Paul Clark said: “As we have always stated, administrators have a primary objective to ensure the survival of the company and in this case, this would have been achieved through a CVA. It was with HMRC’s approval that a proposal was placed before creditors for consideration.

“However, it is the commercial view that the level offered within the CVA was not enough to merit departure from their normal policy of seeking a detailed investigation via a liquidator.

“However, we have been left in no doubt by HMRC the fundamental reason for the rejection of the CVA proposal is the historical non-compliance with tax liabilities by the former owners and directors of the club.”

Clark said Green’s consortium will move to acquire the club’s assets immediately after the formal rejection of the CVA proposal at a creditors’ meeting at Ibrox on Thursday morning.

“That transaction will be completed within a few days,” Clark added. “The sum payable to creditors will be £5.5 million, most of which has already been paid over to us by the Green consortium.

“Over the coming months, we as administrators will continue to finalise the administration of the club and we will work in conjunction with BDO, who will undertake the liquidation process. While the club will continue to face difficulties in the short term, it will survive and continue to play at Ibrox.”

Frank Clark, a former player and manager at English League club Nottingham Forest has been confirmed as the club’s new chairman.

Clark, accepted Nigel Doughty’s approach to succeed him on Wednesday. Doughty stood down as chairman on October 2, the same day that saw manager Steve McClaren tender his resignation following a 3-1 home loss to Birmingham.

A statement on the club’s official website read: “Frank Clark has today accepted Nigel Doughty’s invitation to succeed him as chairman of Nottingham Forest with immediate effect.

“Clark has the unique distinction of not only having played for the club – and won league championship and European Cup winners’ medals – but also to have enjoyed great success as manager of The Reds.”

Clark succeeded Brian Clough as Forest manager in 1993 and guided the club to promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt. He led the club to third place in their first term back in the top flight and to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup the following season.

The 68-year-old left Forest in 1996 and had a spell in charge of Manchester City before spending more than a decade as vice-chairman of the League Managers Association.

Clark’s first order of business in the Forest organisation is to find McClaren’s successor, with the former England manager having left with the club one place and one point above the relegation zone.

The European Broadcasting Union, viagra operating EUROVISION, and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have secured the media rights on all platforms for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Summer Games and various other para-sport events. 

Under the new terms, the EBU will exploit the media rights for all EBU territories, excluding Russia for Sochi 2014 and the UK for both Paralympic Games. Already 27 EBU Members have committed to showing the Rio 2016 Paralympics – an unprecedented number so far in advance of any Games. 

In addition, EUROVISION, operated by the EBU, will provide the IPC with extra services, such as production, distribution and onsite activities, to enhance the coverage of IPC Championships and test events, making the EBU a committed partner in the furtherance of the Paralympic Movement. 

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: “This agreement is a major statement of intent about the growth of the Paralympic Movement and the growing appeal of the Paralympic Games. 

“London 2012 was broadcast to over 100 countries reaching a cumulative global TV audience of 3.8 billion, all of whom I am sure were left inspired and excited by what they saw. To have secured so many territories through the EBU for Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 so far out from both Games is fantastic news and I’d like to personally thank both Organising Committees for their support. 

“I’m also delighted that the EBU will cover and provide extra services for other para-sport events. It is important that the world gets to see athletes in action outside of the Paralympics at events such as World and regional Championships. This deal will help achieve this, further raising the profile of para-sport.” 

Following today’s announcement, EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said: “The Paralympic Movement – like public service broadcasting – is about inclusivity and universality. Sport reaches more people through the free-to-air channels of our Members, so the EBU and the IPC are ideal partners, given our respective values and missions. We are proud to be the IPC’s broadcast partner, and the EBU relishes the chance to help in the growing success of the Paralympic Movement.” 

Dmitry Chernyshenko, CEO and President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, said: “The deal between the IPC and EBU marks an important event for the further promotion of the Paralympic Movement. Millions of TV spectators throughout Europe will be able to follow the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi and plunge into the vibrant atmosphere of this truly exciting competition.” 

Carlos Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, stated: “We are thrilled to have secured Europe-wide coverage so early on in our preparations to deliver excellent and memorable Paralympic Games in Rio 2016. This will provide us with a network of broadcasters with which we can already start working on a variety of fronts, from perfecting our operational plans to showcasing the transformation the Games are bringing to Rio and Brazil.”

MLB Team, Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein has an agreement in place to become head of the Chicago Cubs baseball operations.

Sources indicate Epstein’s move from the Red Sox should be completed within a couple of days. Sources say the two teams were still discussing Boston’s compensation for allowing the move, but this is not expected to derail a deal. It will either be cash or minor-league players going to Boston, but according to people familiar with the deal, the the Red Sox will be content with cash.

Epstein has led the Cubs’ wish list for a new GM since they began the process after parting ways with Jim Hendry this season. People who speak to Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts say he has long praised the “Red Sox model.”

Epstein will make about $15 million over five years with the Cubs. He is also to receive a “conclusion bonus” or “buyout transfer,” money that was part of his Red Sox deal but will now be paid by the Cubs, bringing his total take to about $18.5 million over the five years.

The deal with the Cubs was first reported by WEEI after The Boston Herald reported Tuesday he was close to going to Chicago.

After helping the Red Sox break an 86-year championship drought with World Series titles in 2004 and ’07, Epstein will be entrusted to try to do the same with the Cubs, who haven’t won a World Series since 1908.

Epstein sought and received permission to interview with Chicago last week, and sources indicate that once Red Sox owner John Henry perceived Epstein was entertaining thoughts about leaving, he wasn’t prepared to “chase” him. Though Epstein has long had a close relationship with Henry, his relationship with club president Larry Lucchino had its share of tension even as Lucchino let Epstein largely handle the baseball work over the past few years.

Ben Cherington, an Epstein assistant, appears to be the likely new GM in Boston. Among his first tasks will be taking up a managerial search for Terry Francona’s replacement.

Similarly, Epstein first task will be a managerial search of his own. It seems all but assured Mike Quade will not be retained.

V8 Supercar racing will be seen live in New Zealand after SKY Television was awarded the media rights to the Championship for the next five years, starting with six and a half hours coverage of this weekend’s blockbuster Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

SKY Television secured the five-year broadcast rights to televise all V8 Supercar Championship events in New Zealand. The agreement spans to the end of 2017.

“We welcome SKY Television to the V8 Supercar family and look forward to a fantastic and enduring partnership,” V8 Supercar CEO David Malone said.

“We are delighted our approach to SKY has led to this new partnership as our ever-growing New Zealand fan base is incredibly important to us. We are certain partnering with SKY ensures the ultimate package for the fans, the sport, our teams and our invaluable partners.”

All V8 Supercar races will be broadcast live on SKY Television on Saturdays and Sunday. Signature events, including this weekend’s Clipsal 500, will also feature Friday coverage.

SKY will broadcast both 250 km races live from Adelaide this Saturday and Sunday; as well as ARMOR ALL Qualifying and the ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootout on Friday.

“In more recent times the time difference between New Zealand and many of our events has been problematic for our New Zealand viewers on free to air television,” Mr Malone said.

“The agreement with SKY Television delivers full coverage of all races across the season. This was particularly imperative for us when we began the negotiations.

“For these reasons SKY Television is a fantastic broadcast partner for our sport in New Zealand.”

Richard Last, Director of Sport at SKY was enthusiastic about welcoming V8 Supercars to SKY Sport: “V8’s are a fantastic addition to SKY Sport, I know there will be a lot of very happy SKY customers with this news. The SKY Sport team are passionate about all sport and are looking forward to delivering V8 Supercar races to motorsport fans.”

ITV received the highest audience figures this year for their coverage of England’s 1-1 draw with France.

The press might be playing down England’s chances at Euro 2012, but that didn’t stop the punters knocking off work early to tune in to the team’s first game of the tournament.An average audience of 12.3 million viewers watched 90 minutes of England’s 1-1 draw with France on ITV, with the full broadcast drawing an impressive 8.9 million viewers (47% share) between 4pm and 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITV1 HD.

Viewing peaked in the final five minutes of the game as 15.3 million Englishmen, women and children collectively teetered on the edge of their seats as their team clung on for a point in Donetsk.

It was ITV’s highest peak audience of the year so far, with more than three million of that number watching in high definition on ITV1 HD.

Unsurprisingly, both the peak and average audiences for the game were higher than any ITV coverage of Euro 2008 – a tournament that England did not take part in.

And the fans weren’t just watching on television. ITV have reported almost 250,000 simultaneous live streams of the England game via its website, with more than 425,000 unique visitors to its sport website throughout yesterday.

BBC1 also enjoyed good sporting numbers last night: an average audience of 5.3 million (22% share) kept an eye on England’s group D opponents as Ukraine took on Sweden between 7pm and 10pm.

Great Britain’s Davis Cup captain Leon Smith has been given additional roles by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), now becoming head of men’s and women’s tennis, and also retains his Davis Cup post.

He was already in charge of men’s tennis since 2010. Smith takes over as head of women’s tennis at the LTA following Nigel Sears’ recent departure to become coach of Serbian former world number one, Ana Ivanovic.

Smith told BBC Sport that he would not be setting any bold targets for his tenure.

The LTA has been criticised in the past for setting targets such as how many players it expected to have in the top 100 on a certain date. 

However, Smith did reiterate: “What I’ve learned is not to give targets. We’ve done that before – it’s not the way to go. If we focus on the process, these could be exciting times.”

Currently, Andy Murray is the only men’s British player in the ATP top 100, while Elena Baltacha, Heather Watson and Anne Keothavong are in the WTA top 100.

The shake-up of the look of the LTA’s Performance team now means that Smith will be working alongside a number of coaches – not necessarily known outside of tennis, ending LTA CEO Roger Draper’s experiment with big-name coaches on large contracts.

But the new head of men’s and women’s tennis denied that the experiment was a failure.

Smith added: “I don’t know if it’s a U-turn but it’s certainly good to see young British coaches given opportunities to work at the top end of the game. A lot of people say it was a waste of money but I totally disagree, absolutely not. The results might not have been there but those ‘big names’ contributed to what we’re seeing today.”

Former British number one Greg Rusedski has also agreed a new four-year deal, after guiding Great Britain to their first Junior Davis Cup title.