FC Barcelona has remained for the second straight year, the club that pays it’s players the  highest average salary in the world at $8.7 million.

The findings were revealed in the second annual ESPN The Magazine/SportingIntelligence Global Salary Survey. Full results will be released in conjunction with The Magazine’s Money Issue, on May 4. The poll surveyed 278 teams, 14 leagues, 10 countries, seven sports and 7,925 athletes. Total wages calculated: $15.7 billion. 

At the start of the 2011-12 season, Barcelona had a payroll of $217 million, with an average player salary of $8.7 million, almost $1 million more than the survey’s second-place finisher Real Madrid, whose players earn an average of $7.8 million per season. It marks the second straight year Real Madrid has finished behind its La Liga rivals. In terms of total payroll, theNew York Yankees are ranked second ($196 million) but fall to sixth in per-player average ($6.2 million). 

“Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two most glamorous football clubs in the world,” saysNick Harris, the editor of SportingIntelligence.com, which compiled the results. “It’s no surprise that they have come in as one and two.” The Spanish powerhouses are just two of seven soccer clubs in the top 10 of average salary per player, joined by Manchester City (3), Chelsea (4), A.C. Milan (7), Bayern Munich (9) and Internazionale (10). Along with the seven soccer clubs, three American teams — the Yankees, Los Angeles Lakersand Philadelphia Phillies — are represented in the top 10. Last year there were five. 

“The rise of salaries in European soccer is unrelenting,” Harris says. “You have much more stability and limits across American sports.” Indeed, while the NFL remains the most profitable American sport by a wide margin, no team in the league started 2011 with a payroll higher than 75th, the position of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are at $149.8 million, paying an average of $2.9 million per player. The Lakers, who were second on last year’s list among American teams behind the Yankees, are now in the top spot for average salary per player ($6.3 million), with the Yankees ($6.2 million) coming in second. In contrast to the European soccer clubs, whose salaries continue to rise at an alarming rate, the Lakers and Yankees are actually both paying their players less than a year ago; the Yankees’ drop was steeper, at 8 percent, compared with the Lakers’ drop of 4 percent. 

The Miami Marlins had the biggest jump of any team on the list, going from 123rd to 29th in average player salaries. Last year, the Marlins paid their players an average of $2.2 million; this year, they’re paying $4.4 million. American teams that fell dramatically included theOrlando Magic and Boston Red Sox. The Magic were fifth a year ago, paying an average salary of $6.4 million. That figure has dropped to $4.6 million. The Red Sox, who were eighth last year, are now 19th, their average salary falling from $6 million to $5.1 million. Manchester City has also continued its rise up the payroll standings, paying its players an average of 7.4 million, which puts the team third in the world behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. 

“If we had started this list in 2008, Man City wouldn’t have even been a thought,” Harris says. “Since being bought by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, they have spent over a billion dollars in players and paying wages.” Manchester City qualified for the Champions League for the first time in club history last year and have again qualified in 2012.

Scottish Premier League clubs agreed to postpone talks over financial fair play proposals until next Monday.

Discussions over whether to introduce tough new rules for clubs which go into administration or face the prospect of liquidation were set to take place at a general meeting at Hampden.

But at a time when administration-hit Rangers are attempting to find a new buyer, the clubs agreed to delay talks.

The SPL confirmed: “At today’s general meeting of SPL clubs, discussions on financial fair play proposals were adjourned until Monday May 7.”

Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy and the Blue Knights confirmed on Monday they have submitted a revised bid for Rangers, with US tycoon Bill Miller also in the running for a takeover.

After hanging on to team GB deputy Chef de Mission Clive Woodward last week, the British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced the addition of Belinda Moore to its performance services team as head of athlete engagement.

Moore’s responsibilities include delivering programmes and services that enhance athlete engagement with the BOA and support their performances at major international events that fall within the remit of the organisation.

She brings considerable Olympic experience from a 13-year career at BBC Sport where she worked on-site at six Olympic Games and will work closely with the BOA Athletes’ Commission.

Moore said: “I am thrilled to be joining the British Olympic Association at such an exciting time for Team GB.

“Preparing for an Olympic Games on home soil is a unique challenge and I am really looking forward to the opportunity to combine the project management skills I have developed over 13 years at the BBC with my passion for and understanding of the Olympic Games in order to help prepare our Olympic athletes to maximise their performance on home soil in 2012 and far beyond.”

Andy Hunt, Team GB Chef de Mission and BOA chief executive, said: “I am delighted to welcome Belinda Moore to the BOA team.

“We have worked very hard to ensure that the BOA puts athletes at the heart of all our planning and decision-making and I am pleased that Belinda’s considerable Olympic experience, dynamism and project management skills will be focused on leading our programmes to prepare athletes and their wider support groups for the biggest moment of their careers.”

ESPN, price buy Inc. is launching this week ESPNFC, a new multi-language and multi-country brand for football fans around the world across TV, radio, print, online and mobile.

The brand is being rolled out ahead of Euro 2012 being staged in Poland and the Ukraine in June. International coverage will be built up over time to include all the major leagues and competitions with the site detecting from where it is being accessed so that viewers can be given both the language and content that is relevant to their area.

John Skipper, President, ESPN said: “ESPN is solidifying its dedication to soccer year-round with the launch of ESPNFC. It represents one of ESPN’s most significant global commitments to the sport and leverages the core strength of what ESPN does well – serve sports fans. In short, ESPNFC is the definitive source for soccer coverage worldwide.”

ESPNFC will also be integrated into ESPNdeportes.com, which serves the Spanish-speaking community in the US, and ESPNsoccernet.

Throughout EURO 2012, ESPNFC will provide comprehensive coverage of one of the leading international football competitions, news, analysis and commentary, real-time scores, stats and more and in the US live TV coverage, on-demand video highlights and studio programming clips. Its new global news-gathering operations will organize a worldwide network of ESPN writers and analysts covering the latest news and developments around the clock, including contributions from former England manager Glenn Hoddle plus tournament coverage with team previews of all 16 teams, stadium profiles and tactical insight supported by a EURO 2012 Blog Network of all countries competing.

Time Warner Cable Inc. has appointed David Rone as president of TWC Sports, allergy as announced by its Executive VP and chief video and content officer Melinda Witmer on Monday, clinic May 23.

Rone will report to Witmer in the newly created role for the providers of video, medical high-speed data and phone services, and lead the company as a sports content provider building and fostering relationships with sports leagues, conferences, teams, programming providers and others, besides overseeing its programming and existing sports channels and build new regional sports networks.

Rone was most recently in a boutique investment-banking firm Evolution Media Capital (EMC) as part of its sports media advisory leadership team and has also served as co-head of CAA Sports and Executive VP of Fox Sports Networks and general manager for Fox College Sports.

Blackburn Rovers owners Venky’s have denied reports they will sell the struggling Premier League outfit even if they are relegated at the end of the season.

It had been speculated over the weekend that the Rao family could be in the hunt for a new buyer, with investment bankers Goldman Sachs reportedly being contacted to get the sale in motion. 

“It is not true, none of that,” Rovers director Vineeth Rao told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. “We have no plans to sell Blackburn Rovers, none at all. 

“Even if the club got relegated, which is not in our thoughts, we are not planning to sell.”

This follows Blackburn’s latest defeat at the hands of Tottenham where they became the first team since 2004 to not have a shot on or off target.

There is a possibility that Rovers could drop into the Championship next Monday if they fail to clinch three points against Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers retrieve a point against Stoke City.

by Ismail Uddin

Michael Spillane, currently CEO of Converse, has been confirmed by Nike, Inc. as the new CEO and president of Umbro, while Jim Calhoun, currently CEO of Hurley, will become CEO and president of Converse.

Both will continue to report to Nike Inc. president of affiliates Roger Wyett following current CEO and president of Umbro, Jim Allaker’s retirement.

Spillane brings more than 25 years of management experience in the apparel and textile industries to Umbro having joined Converse in 2007 as president of North America Footwear. In less than a year, he was asked to lead growth around the apparel business, as president, North America and Global Product.

Calhoun rejoins Nike, after working in its basketball business, from Levi Strauss & Company, where he had worked since 2008 as executive vice president & president of the Dockers Brand. Before joining Levi Strauss, Calhoun was with The Walt Disney Company for more than nine years in a variety of senior roles, most recently as executive vice president & general manager for Disney Consumer Products for North and Latin America.

Wyett will serve as interim CEO of Hurley as Nike, Inc. moves to name a successor.

American tv broadcaster, NBC have acquired the broadcast rights to the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open becoming the first regular European Tour events to be shown live on a major United States.

NBC will broadcast two and a half hours of live coverage on each of the final two days’ play from Castle Stuart Golf Links in 2013 and Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in 2014. NBC Sports’ golf coverage is presented as Golf Channel on NBC and complements Golf Channel’s season-long coverage of European Tour events, including the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Until now, only Major Championships, World Golf Championships and leading team events connected to The European Tour have been shown live on American broadcast networks and so this two-year agreement between the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and NBC Sports opens up new horizons for one of the most prestigious titles on the Tour.

As part of the new arrangement, title sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management, which is eager to promote its global asset management business in the United States, will have the opportunity to advertise and engage in promotional activity around the broadcast, as will the tournament’s other principal backers, the Scottish Government.

Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “The U.S. is one of our most important markets and therefore we are very supportive of this new agreement with NBC and the Golf Channel. The opportunities for us to promote the Aberdeen brand in the U.S. are fantastic. It’s a very effective way for us to reach a mass audience and showcase not only our commitment to [Scottish] golf and to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open but also raise our profile as a leading global financial institution.”

The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP, Scotland’s First Minister, commented: “This historic agreement with NBC and the Golf Channel will see the Scottish Open become the first regular European Tour event to be given prime-time coverage on U.S. network television. It is a fantastic boost for Scottish golf and an incredible opportunity for Scotland to showcase the magnificent scenery of the Highlands and the fantastic golf on offer at Castle Stuart and across the country to tens of millions of U.S. viewers.

“This is an agreement brokered on the course at the recent Ryder Cup in Medinah, and I know from my time at that tournament that U.S. golf fans have an incredible affinity for Scotland as the undisputed Home of Golf. This deal will help feed the appetite for coverage of Scottish events across the Atlantic and cement the reputation of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open as one of the jewels in the crown of the European Tour schedule.

“Within the last few weeks, another U.S. TV network – CNN – said Scotland was the must-see destination of 2013. Today’s announcement will see NBC covering Scotland’s premier golf tournament live on its network. It is a great boost for Scottish golf, a great boost for Scottish tourism and a fantastic thing for Scotland.”

Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports, said: “Showcasing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in concert on both NBC and Golf Channel is yet another example of the strength of the NBC Sports Group.”

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, added: “Following the vision and leadership of the Golf Channel, we are delighted to enter into this historic new agreement with NBC for live coverage of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the next two years. It speaks volumes for the quality of the European Tour product, and specifically the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, that one of our most prestigious championships will be shown to a new audience on one of the prime TV networks in the United States in conjunction with our already outstanding coverage on the Golf Channel.”

Brian Kennedy and the Blue Knights have confirmed they have submitted a “revised bid” for Rangers with administrators Duff and Phelps.

Kennedy, also the Sale Sharks owner, and the Blue Knights consortium – fronted by former Ibrox director Paul Murray – are in the running for a takeover of the stricken club, with American tycoon Bill Miller another bidder.

Administrators confirmed they had received formal offers from both interested parties on Friday.

Kennedy’s spokesman said: “Brian Kennedy has asked me to advise you all that a revised bid has been submitted to the administrators.”

The Knights were set to be named preferred bidders two weeks previously but former partners Ticketus would not pay the exclusivity fee and bowed out of the deal.

However, Kennedy was told at the weekend that the offer delivered by himself and the Knights on Friday, reported to be worth £5 million, would not be commercially acceptable to creditors.

Rangers’ liabilities are around £60 million but they could face an additional tax bill of up to £75 million in the coming days or weeks when a tribunal outcome is delivered.

The offer is subject to a Company Voluntary Arrangement being accepted and Craig Whyte handing over his 85% shareholding.

Joint-administrator David Whitehouse said Miller’s £11.2 million bid, which involves transferring the club’s assets to a new company, was acceptable and claimed there could be clarity early this week over whether the American could proceed. He added that Miller could theoretically take control before the end of the season.

However, Miller’s bid is dependent on getting assurances that his newco club would not be penalised by the football authorities.

A new club would be banned from Europe for three years and the Scottish Premier League clubs are meeting today to discuss points and financial penalties for such a club, while Rangers have appealed against a £160,000 fine and 12-month transfer embargo from the Scottish Football Association.

Miller has been in talks with the SPL and SFA and Whitehouse urged the Blue Knights to follow suit “very urgently”.