Former Portsmouth owner Balu Chainrai has submitted a bid to buy back the club, which could bring them out of administration within the next six weeks.

Portsmouth were relegated from the Championship this season and will play their football in League One but the South Coast club have bigger worries on their mind by looking for a new owner since entering administration in February for the second time in as many years.

And joint administrator Trevor Birch, of PFK Accountants & business advisers, has now revealed that Chainrai’s Portpin are the only group to have proposed terms for a Company Voluntary Arrangement.

Birch said: “PKF has not received bids from any other potential buyers and we do not expect any new bidders to emerge before the club runs out of money.

“The Supporters’ Trust is working hard to make a proposal but as yet is not in a funded position to make a bid.

“We’ve made it clear from the start that a new owner would need to demonstrate that it cannot only fund a CVA that is acceptable to creditors, but also cover the club’s ongoing operating losses.

“Only Portpin has been able to give us the necessary assurances that the funding will be in place. This is important because at some stage it will have to give The Football League those assurances too.

Portpin has made an offer to buy the club. The offer will form the basis of a proposal for a CVA that, in the circumstances, is likely to give the best possible deal for creditors of Portsmouth Football Club (2010) Ltd and provide the most realistic opportunity for protecting the club’s financial position going forward and avoid liquidation.

“We are aiming to send details of the proposed CVA to creditors next week. Creditors will then get an opportunity to vote on the proposals at a meeting to be scheduled for early June. If the CVA is accepted, it will pave the way for Portpin to acquire the club by early July.

“However, there is still a lot to do before we get to that stage and we are not taking anything for granted. PKF will now work together with Portpin to finalise the business plan to satisfy the Football League that Portsmouth Football Club has a sustainable long-term future.

“This is still likely to involve further cost-saving measures including player sales and the renegotiation of contracts with the top earners to bring the club’s costs in line with the League One average.

“Portpin management and PKF have been working with the manager Michael Appleton to make preparations to ensure that the club is in the best possible position for the season ahead. Portpin has full trust in Michael’s ability to be a successful manager.

“Nobody wants to see this much-loved club collapse into either liquidation or administration again so it essential that all parties work together to bring stability back to Fratton Park. It is the least that fans, staff and players deserve after the turbulence of the past few years.”

Chainrai, owner of Portpin, said: “I always said I would not let the club be liquidated. I’m a businessman but I realise that the club will only have value if it is successful. I now want to turn things around at Portsmouth Football Club and see the club regain its rightful position.

“The success of this goal can only be achieved if all parties with a vested interest in the club’s business work together.

“Let’s not be under any illusions though: we are planning to take on a club with severe financial problems that cannot be fixed overnight.

“I don’t have a magic wand but many important elements – a proud history, passionate supporters and one of the country’s top managers – are already in place and provide a strong platform on which we hope to build stability.

“We will work with the Football League and the PFA over the next couple of weeks to demonstrate our commitment to securing a brighter and stable future for Portsmouth Football Club.”

Olympic Gold Medallist Bob Beamon jumped into a new career as the new chief executive of Art at the Olympians Museum and Gallery at the Al Oerter Center for Excellence in Fort Myers in Florida.

Cathy Oerter the wife of the late four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw Al Oerter, praised the American just before he took the post.

“My late husband, Al, had known Bob since the early 60s,” she said.

“I know Bob will continue to cultivate Al’s passion for arts and sports to motivate and encourage others to achieve their best.”

Beamon broke the long jump world record in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City by jumping 8.90 metres, one of the most famous performances in the history of the sport.

The achievement went unchallenged for 23 years until Mike Powell broke it in 1991, making Beamon the second longest holder of the record behind Jesse Owens who held the record for 25 years from 1935 to 1960.

Beamon post athletic career went on to promote athletics to youngsters with former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as hosting the South Florida Inner City Games and the Bob Beamon United Way Golf Classic.

He has since been elected into the USA Track & Field and US Olympic hall of fames, and served as the director of the athletic development at Florida Atlantic University, and the associate athletic director at Chicago State University.

“It is a tremendous honour to carry on the legacy of the great Al Oerter, the legendary four-time Olympic gold medal discus thrower,” Beamon said.

“I’m looking forward to working with the board, donors, volunteers and the community to maximise AOTO’s strengths while promoting the Olympic ideals and values.”

Rangers potential new owner Charles Green has revealed the identities of two members of the Sevco consortium set to take over Rangers.

The former Sheffield United chief executive had been relectant to unveil the names of his associates but on Friday he announced them.

Green told Rangers’ official website: “I can now provide two names, as I have clearance to do so on their part, of investors who are on the list.

“One guy is Jude Allen, who is an Indonesian investor, and the second is a lawyer from the Middle East, Mazen Houssami.

“These two are very prominent in their areas.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to build on their experience, their connections in those regions, because we want to take the Rangers brand into these areas.

“There are other names but, for today, they are two very prominent businessmen who are backing the football club.

“And, in addition to these two previous names, there is also a Singapore family trust.”

treat helvetica, ambulance sans-serif;”>Havas Sports & Entertainment (HS&E), abortion  global brand engagement agency of the Havas Group, has appointed a new Senior Vice President Sports for Havas Sports & Entertainment US in the form of Mark Rothenberg.

Rothenberg will be responsible for developing HS&E’s sports offering in the United States while based in New York, further developing the network’s sports expertise and brand engagement credentials with Havas Media US agencies, including MPG & Havas Digital. Rothenberg will also collaborate with Havas agencies Euro RSCG and Arnold.

Rothenberg’s position will help strengthen HS&E’s presence in the US, already established through HS&E’s social experience agency Cake New York, led by Adrian Pettett, and with HS&E Miami, managed by Manuel Reis, whose strengths lie in award-winning brand content projects for North America and LATAM. Havas Sports & Entertainment US currently works for a variety of clients including Pedigree, Carnival Cruise Lines, Dior, Havaianas, Volvo, Puig, Sears, and Yahoo!

With more than 25+ years experience in sports, lifestyle and entertainment marketing, Rothenberg joins the agency from Two River Consulting (TRC), a marketing consultancy specialized in strategic planning and integrated marketing communications development.

Prior to TRC, Rothenberg  was Executive Vice President of Marketing for Cox Enterprises who purchased the agency he founded, Lifestyle Marketing Group (LMG), a leading marketing agency specializing in sports marketing, event marketing, sponsorship sales and sponsorship portfolio analysis. He also helped establish Saatchi & Saatchi’s sports marketing network, having worked with many blue-chip companies including General Motors, Hewlett Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Gillette and Mars among others.

Rothenberg’s extensive experience in Olympic marketing initiatives representing the United States Olympic Team, Atlanta, Seoul and Barcelona Organizing Committees as well as Olympic sponsors, such as General Motors, Bristol Myers, and Xerox, will provide additional senior resource,  support the network’s already strong client base, and help grow HS&E’s footprint both domestically and globally.

Maria Luisa Francoli, CEO of Havas Media North America and MPG Global, said: “As our clients continue to look to us to provide seamless media solutions across channels, our focus on integrated sports and entertainment solutions is a natural fit,” said Francoli.

“Mark is a great talent whose expertise in sports marketing is coupled with his holistic approach to meeting business challenges. I look forward to his immediate contributions to all of our clients,” she added.

Rothenberg said:“I am excited to be joining Havas Sports & Entertainment’s global network, which offers strategically sound and best in class creative brand engagement experiences. It is great to join an agency with a strong client base that is committed to delivering innovative work based on insight, solid research and measurement, be that ROI or ROO. I am looking forward to growing our sports offering within the US marketplace and drawing on HS&E’s global expertise and experience.”

Lucien Boyer, President and CEO of Havas Sports & Entertainment said, “ I am confident that Mark’s expertise and solid background in the American sports marketplace will make this further push into sports in this region a success for Havas Sports & Entertainment. We are excited to have Mark on board –  our teams across the US and global network look forward to collaborating on many new projects.”

The International Union of Modern Pentathlon (UIPM) has agreed terms with Russian network and production company NTV Plus, to produce the UIPM World Cup Series and Senior World Championships live for TV for the next 4 years. 

NTV Plus beat a long list of companies vying to become UIPM’s production partner in the next Olympic period on the back of their vision, passion and experience in producing Modern Pentathlon events. 

UIPM President Dr h.c. Klaus Schormann stated: “This is a landmark deal for UIPM, we are very excited to be partnering up with such a big and prestigious company like NTV Plus. We believe they are the right partner for us to take UIPM’s TV project which has grown significantly over the past 4 years to the next level.” 

UIPM’s Vice President for Business Affairs Viacheslav Aminov added: “I am very excited about this agreement, as NTV Plus is a famous Russian network and production company. This agreement is a new epoch in UIPM’s history in the broadcast and popularisation of our great sport. NTV Plus brings with them 3 years of experience in online and Live TV broadcasting of modern pentathlon, especially riding and combined event. So we are looking forward to our very bright TV future together with our new partner.” 

In the agreement, NTV Plus will produce the individual final days and Mixed Relay finals from 6 events a year live for TV for international distribution, plus a live webcast of each event, a TV magazine show and news edits. 

World Cup #1 in Palm Springs, USA on 20-24 February 2013, will be the first event to be produced by NTV Plus, with the agreement running until the end of the 2016 season.

Ticketus have been told their Rangers contract will be terminated according to administrators Duff and Phelps.

The London-based firm are owed £26.7million from a deal struck with Craig Whyte last May for the future sale of three years’ worth of season tickets.

Majority shareholder Whyte gave personal guarantees to the investment firm over capital issued to the club, which totalled more than £30million.

Prospective new Rangers owner Charles Green has vowed to freeze season ticket prices following latest news about Ticketus.

Former Sheffield United chief executive Green, who is leading a consortium to purchase Rangers, said in a statement: “During the last week I have had a number of meetings with supporters’ representatives who have raised important issues about the club and the way forward.

“I have listened to them and a key issue raised with me was the season ticket pricing for next season.

“My initial thoughts prior to these meetings was that season tickets prices should be increased as they had not been raised in the last three years.

“However, taking on board the fans’ concerns, I can confirm that when my consortium completes the purchase of Rangers and takes over the running of the club, season ticket prices will be frozen for next season.

“The club’s administrators have informed me they have written to Ticketus to terminate the agreement that is currently in place with the club and supporters can now take heart from the fact that season ticket sales will be as normal.

“Once we are in a position to issue season ticket renewals, and that will be as soon as possible, I would urge all fans to continue showing the tremendous support they have given to the club.

“The fans are the club’s greatest asset and their commitment to season tickets will be an important part of rebuilding Rangers.

“In view of the public announcement this week that the Plus Market is to close, I can inform all supporters that it is our intention to make arrangements to list Rangers Football Club on an alternative market at the earliest opportunity.

“This is, of course, subject to meeting any requirements to list and having approval from all relevant authorities.” 

A spokesperson for Ticketus said: “This is a formality. “Ticketus were already being treated as creditors in a CVA – implying the ticket deal would no longer stand- but at some stage had to be given formal notification of that.

“Ticketus have received that notification now.”

Earlier this month, Ticketus formally launched legal action against Whyte over money owed to them by administration-hit Rangers.

Documents from a previous court case showed Ticketus had made two payments to Rangers, one in May last year and one in September, which were worth more than £30million when VAT was added.

The initial payment, worth £24.4million in total, was used by Whyte to pay off the club’s bank debt to complete his takeover just over a year ago.

Keith Bradshaw has resigned his post as the secretary and chief executive of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with immediate effect due to family reasons.

Bradshaw is the fourteenth MCC secretary & chief executive the first to originate from Australia and has been in post since October 2006.

Keith Bradshaw will hand over his duties during October and will continue to be available in an advisory capacity until the end of the year. Colin Maynard, symptoms the current Deputy Secretary, sale will serve as Acting Secretary & Chief Executive.

The MCC Committee will now look to appoint an international executive search firm to find Keith Bradshaw’s successor.

A small group of Committee members will co-ordinate this process.  Led by Oliver Stocken (MCC Chairman), therapy the group will also include Christopher Martin-Jenkins (President), Justin Dowley (Treasurer), Phillip Hodson (President Designate), Anthony Wreford (Trustee) and Mike Griffith (Chairman of Cricket).

The President of MCC, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, said: ‘It is with considerable regret that the MCC Committee has accepted the resignation of Keith Bradshaw.

“From his first day as Secretary & Chief Executive, Keith has been a breath of fresh air at Lord’s and he has made an outstanding contribution towards the high standing and role of the Club both domestically and internationally. His open and positive attitude has been infectious to all those around him and he can be very proud of his numerous achievements at MCC.  During his time here, Lord’s has come to be seen not just as the home of cricket but as a welcoming place to all who love the game.”

Bradshaw added: “Following the recent loss of my mother, I am returning to Australia for family reasons.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Club working with the Committee, Members, staff and the many cricket bodies around the world.  My five years at Lord’s have been very special and I will leave with many treasured memories; it has been a great honour and privilege to serve the Club.”

Neil Doncaster, seek the Scottish Premier League (SPL) chief executive, viagra 100mg has suggested Rangers will not be receiving special treatment if they look to re-enter the top division.

Prospective new owner Charles Green is still keen for the club to exit administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) but may be forced to go down a newco route.

Celtic fans are threatening boycotts if a Rangers newco gets into the top flight.

Doncaster met would-be Ibrox owner Charles Green at Hampden yesterday but insisted it was not to smooth a way back for the club after the SFA threw out their appeal against a 12-month transfer ban.

 

He said: “I have no previous experience with Charles.

 

“It’s important to meet the owners of all our clubs to get a better understanding of what their intentions are. We will continue to deal with clubs equally under the rules. We’ll have to do that without fear or favour.

 

“I can’t get into special cases because our job is to apply the rules fairly.”

 

The SPL are still probing Rangers’ alleged use oftwo contracts per player over a 14-year period but there’s no end in sight to the inquiry. Doncaster said: “That will take some time and it’s being done by our lawyers.

 

“How long will it take? How long has the HMRC investigation into Rangers been going on?

 

“These things take as long as they take.

 

“The issue for us is, have any of our rules been breached? If they have then we will act accordingly.”

Drew Barrand’s departure as Head of Communications at Benchmark has led to the company naming his successor Adam Fraser.

Fraser will be responsible for developing the communications strategy for the four businesses under the Benchmark Sport umbrella namely the Sport Industry Group, including the Sport Industry Awards in both the UK and South Africa; Beyond Sport; Square Mile Sport; and Benchmark Talent.

Fraser, who will take up his new role in mid-September, started his career as a journalist with Football365 in 2005 and has since written for a wide range of magazines, newspapers, websites and official publications, based both in England and in France.

Since 2008 he has held a number of key editorial roles at SportsPro Media, and been part of the team that has developed SportsPro into one of the sport industry’s leading publications.

Barrand leaves Benchmark Sport at the end of this week to join sports communications agency Pitch as Associate Director, beginning Tuesday 30th August.