Plans to redesign the Cardiff City brand has been met with opposition by more than 1,000 Cardiff City fans.

Supporters have begun to voice their concerns after a remarkable 24 hours in which it emerged the club’s Malaysian owners propose to change the team’s kit from blue to red and replace the Bluebird emblem with a Welsh dragon from next season.

Fans warned the changes risk “damaging the heritage of the club” and making it “unrecognisable in all but name”.

Club chiefs moved to placate supporters at a meeting last night, but a significant proportion are furious at the proposed changes, which have been ordered by Cardiff’s billionaire Malaysian backer Vincent Tan.

The proposals are contained in a major review of the way forward for Wales’ capital city club as Cardiff’s Malaysian owners plan the best method to deliver Premier League football.

They include a new strip of red shirt (with black trim), black shorts and red socks, that the owners believe will be more marketable in Asia. The team’s away kit will become blue.

A new badge which will be in the form of a red Welsh dragon, rather than the traditional bluebird, is also proposed.

Are Cardiff’s Malaysian owners right/wrong to propose this? Discuss here: http://bit.ly/IVHVN9

Andrea Dini has been appointed as UIM Secretary General, replacing Régine Vandekerckhove, who led the UIM Monaco office since 1992.

43 year old Andrea said: “After many years of appreciated services to the industry and the sport of Powerboating, it’s a great honour and an opportunity for me to focus my knowledge and experience at the service of the World Governing Body, the UIM.

“It’s like crowning a dream after several years of hard and professional work for our Sport. Let me thank the UIM Council and all the people who gave me their confidence and trust for this great opportunity.”

NBC Sports Network has entered into a three-year partnership with World Series of Fighting (WSOF) to deliver live, world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight programming.

The agreement calls for a minimum of six live events annually on the national television platform that reaches over 80 million homes beginning with the promotion’s second event, “WSOF 2,” live 23 March.

Additionally, later this year, NBCSports.com will live stream World Series of Fighting events via TV Everywhere.

“We are thrilled to call NBC Sports Network the home of World Series of Fighting,” said World Series of Fighting President and six-time world kickboxing champion, Ray Sefo. “This partnership will allow us to build the World Series of Fighting brand of world-class MMA competition before a dedicated national audience of passionate sports fans and place our athletes on the big stage that they deserve.”

The inaugural World Series of Fighting 1 aired live on NBC Sports Network on 3 November last year.

Rangers are back in financial uncertainty after American businessman Bill Miller withdrew his bid to takeover the Glasgow club. 

Miller was selected as administrators Duff and Phelps preferred bidder last Thursday over a rival offer from the Blue Knights and Brian Kennedy.

However, Miller vehemently changed his course and announced today that he has withdrawn his offer to take over the Scottish Premeir League outfit.

A statement from Miller read: “As soon as I was announced as preferred bidder for Rangers, my team began to press ahead with our due diligence. Until then, information had been limited to what was made available in the internet data room and questions addressed to the administrators and their staff.

“In addition, I had preliminary discussions with the Scottish Footballing Authorities and limited discussions with Ally McCoist. Upon being named preferred bidder, discussions with Rangers staff started and discussions with all interested parties intensified.

“We continued to work through the holiday weekend in order to meet a very compressed schedule. By late Monday night, it became clear to me that preliminary information, discussions and analysis were, unfortunately, more optimistic than reality.

“Having no intention of negatively affecting the potential outcome of the club’s future and after hearing the message from Rangers supporters and fans loud and clear (“Yank go home!”), I notified the administrators today that I have withdrawn my bid for Rangers and will not be moving forward.

“I am deeply disappointed as I had considered the opportunity to bid for one of the most historic football clubs in the world, an honour and a privilege. I wish Rangers fans, supporters and employees my very best. I hope all your dreams and wishes come true. You certainly deserve it.

“I am most disappointed that I won’t have the opportunity to walk into Ibrox Stadium on the day of an Old Firm match as my friends tell me the hair on my arm will stand up and I will never witness such passion and spirit at any sporting event.

“God Speed, Rangers!”

English Premiership Soccer team Fulham have announced that Jonathan Gregory as the new commercial director. He will start with immediate effect.
A recent position of Mr Gregory’s was as a director of England’s unsuccessful bid for the 2018 World Cup bid. 50 commercial partners were close however Russia’s successful bid ended them hopes.

Before his World Cup appointment he worked with Wembley Stadium as commericial director where he attracted three founding partner brands – Microsoft,Umbro and Carlsberg.

Serie A clubs Atalanta, Siena and Novara have been accused of match-fixing pertaining to manipulation of games and bet frauds, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed.

In a comprehensive 48-page list released by the FIGC, 22 clubs were named along with 61 individuals that have been reported to the football authorities in connection with a match-fixing and betting investigation.

A statement from the FIGC read: ”Regarding the investigation carried out by the magistrates of Cremona, the Federal prosecutor has reported to the Disciplinary Commission 22 clubs, 61 people, of which 52 were active players at the time of the investigation, four were executives and three were registered as coaches.”

The investigation has been carried out by magistrates of the northern Italian city of Cremona and its focus is on 33 games over the past two seasons, the majority of which were in Serie B.

However, matches played in the last two Coppa Italia tournaments are under scrutiny.

In an earlier investigation, 17 people were arrested by Italian police last year, including Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni.

Atalanta, who had been promoted to Serie A at the end of the 2010-11 season, began the current campaign with a six-point deduction as punishment for match-fixing.

Doni was banned from football for three and a half years by the FIGC’s disciplinary committee.

IFM Sports Marketing Surveys have bolstered its leadership team to develop and deliver its full range of research initiatives and advisory services by appointing Michael Stone as Head of Research and Consultancy and promoting Jon Stainer to Deputy Managing Director. These two key appointments have been made as a result of continued substantial growth in the business, cialis particularly in the Middle East and Asia.

Managing director Les Kelly said: “In Michael Stone we have recruited an experienced senior market research consultant with over 20 years’ experience working with blue chip companies at Synovate and the Electoral Reform Service. With over 10 years’ experience at IFM SMS, sales Jon has a wealth of knowledge across all areas of our business. He will continue to head up our Sales & Marketing operation ensuring that our renowned customer focused outlook remains central to the business going forward.   These two key appointments, along with the creation of a focused in-house marketing team, reflect our continued commitment to offering industry leading research and consultancy to our clients.”

The European Broadcasting Union, there operating EUROVISION, order and the World Rowing Federation (FISA), anabolics have agreed a four-year renewal of all European media rights from 2013-2016.

This agreement includes the World Rowing Championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015, the annual World Rowing Cup series, and the European Rowing Championships. The 2015 World Championships will serve as the Olympic Qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The opening event of the renewed agreement will be the first regatta of the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup series from 22 – 24 March, in Sydney.

FISA President Denis Oswald said: “Our relationship with the EBU started in the early 1980s, and it has been a long and successful one. But, as everyone knows, much has changed in the television world in recent years, particularly in the way that sports events are televised, and how their rights are exploited and distributed. In the light of these many significant changes, I am pleased to acknowledge that EUROVISION has shown the flexibility and foresight to adapt to these times. I look forward to a highly collaborative and productive relationship with the EBU and their Members through to 2016.”

EUROVISION Director Sports & Business Stefan Kuerten added: “FISA was the first international sports federation to join the Olympic movement, making rowing today a time-honoured mainstay of the modern Olympic Games. That FISA has once again entrusted EUROVISION and the EBU Members with giving rowing’s marquee events the free to air exposure they deserve tells of a thriving partnership that will continue to grow in strength.”

Following Bill Miller’s decision to end his bid for Rangers Football club, the SPL clubs administrators have revealed three other bidders who have expressed an interest in buying the stricken club after Bill Miller withdrew his offer.

American businessman Miller, who was named preferred bidder on Thursday, informed Duff and Phelps he no longer wanted to buy the club on Tuesday afternoon.

The stricken Glasgow giants, who were plunged into administration in February and have been battling to avoid liquidation, looked to have turned a corner until the latest setback.

Miller had won preferred bidder status ahead of the Blue Knights, while Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy has also been linked with the Scottish Premier League outfit.

A statement from Duff and Phelps read: “Since Bill Miller was announced as preferred bidder on Thursday of last week it is regrettable that more progress could not have been made for the sale of the club.

“We were informed by his advisors that there were a number of issues that he felt uncomfortable with, including legacy contracts, the limitations of potential revenue streams and the expectation of required investment.

“Given the fact that Mr Miller did not enter into an exclusivity agreement, we have informed all known potential bidders at the time that the door is not closed.

“As a consequence of Mr Miller’s bid being accepted, three other bidders have come forward to express their interest in buying the club.

“These offers are being evaluated with the utmost urgency.”